Follow Nicole on her WBFF DIVA FIT MODEL Journey at Fitness Atlantic!

Second Time Around....

I've always loved fitness and staying active.  Sports teams, fitness classes, at home workouts - I've done it all.  I'm an eternal student and love the opportunity to learn a new skill, master it and continually improve.

About 5 years ago friend of mine started prepping for a fitness competition and encourage me to try.  I initially refused, as I didn't think it was for me.  She looked incredible!  After the show, she kept telling me the prep changed her life and made her adopt a happier, healthier lifestyle. Seeing her planted a seed and made me consider it, but I wasn't quite ready.  It wasn't until my daughter went off to college and I was an empty-nester did I really start thinking about it.  At the time, I was going through a lot of changes - a new job, an end of a relationship and health issues that turned into a 30 pound weight gain.  I wasn't happy with how I looked or felt, and didn't want to go into my 40s feeling miserable,overweight and overwhelmed.  I had taken a class with Malenna several years prior and stayed on her email list, so I signed up for her 16 week weight loss program in January 2018, which turned into prep for my first show (July 2018).  I loved the results of the 16 week program, and I wanted to push even harder, and see what I was capable of.  I had no idea what to expect, but I was ready to work and my last excuse was away at college :).

Prep was no joke.  Lots of hard work, commitment and HUGE changes.  The funny thing is, I liked it.  The discipline and regiment provided order and stability, which anchored and balanced me.  It was nice fitting back into my clothes and walking on the beach in a bikini and not scramble to put on a shirt or cover up.  It also had an unexpected side effect of making me more assertive and focused.  I was saying no, standing up for myself and removing toxic people and things from my space without apology or second guessing.  I had a limited window of time and I didn't want to waste it on things or people that did not serve me or make my life better.  When I stepped onstage in July, I felt and looked like a warrior.  

So why a second show?  I had to step back and really think about it.  Did I really want to put myself through that a second time in less than year?  At first I thought it was just post show blues, but it was more than that.  I've heard retired athletes talk about walking away from the game and "leaving it all out there".  As hard as I worked for the July show, I didn't believe I left it all on stage.  I still had more in me; it was a nagging feeling that I couldn't shake.  I just knew I didn't want to live with regret or what-ifs.  I'd rather say 'I'm glad I did' instead of 'I wish I did'.

I'm now a few days away from Fitness Atlantic and I can't wait.  This prep was much different than the first one; but then again, so I am I.  I feel stronger, more confident and READY.  I can't wait to leave it all on stage April 13th.

To Prep or not to Prep.

 The Second Time Around...

If you recently got to read my last post on this blog, you have an idea of how much fitness means to me and how much I enjoy challenging myself. Well, the decision for going forward with this prep was no different.

I was very blessed to have gotten second place in my last show, it being my first competition, I know most people would feel beyond happy. It was a little different for me. I was content, but not satisfied. At first I was on the fence about doing this again. I was enjoying my time off for a few weeks, however, the thought of trying harder to do better than last time continued circling in my head and although I had a lot going on in my personal life, I knew I could never forgive myself and I would regret it if I didn’t go for it.

My close friend Tiffany also decided to compete in this show and I felt a sense of weight on my shoulders to be as supportive as I can. I previously told her I would prep with her and I didn’t want to go back on my word. I prepped alone during my last competition and I know how difficult it can be. Doing this prep with Kim and Tiff has made it so much easier in the sense of the fellowship, having the same topic to speak about, group chats to complain, coordinate group workouts, and motivate and support each other.

I thought that because I JUST came out of a prep, I knew what was was ahead so it would be more of a breeze; I was wrong. I had a new set of hurdles to face and instead of being afraid, I decided to take courage and allow myself to grow through these new challenges.

I was facing new challenges in my personal life, at my job and physically with my body fat being more resilient and also being treated for a back injury during this process, but this only became the reason that fueled me to push through and use my faith to move these mountains and continue inspiring anyone to not use the excuse of letting difficult situations be the reason to not go after what you want.

It is scary to think, “what if I get worse than second place” but at the end of this, I can say I am truly satisfied because through this process I have already beat that girl that won second place. I’m mentally and emotionally stronger than I was last time and if my whole process serves as just an ounce of motivation for anyone facing a similar issue, then all this hard work is absolutely valid.

Follow Massiel as she makes her WBFF Diva Fit Model Debut!

Let me begin at the top. I stumbled into my current career unintentionally. Being a personal trainer was never in my "what do you want to be when you grow up?" List. I started pursuing fitness because I was overly stressed. When I realized I needed to make a change I was 24 years old. At such a young age I was completely out of shape, couldn't fit into my clothes and it all happened suddenly. It's like I was in my body but felt like it wasn't my body. I was so unhappy with my bachelors in business, stressed at my job as an administrator and with so many changes happening in my life during that year I began suffering from anxiety. The weight room became my therapy. My dedication began producing the physical results that I wanted and before I knew it I was guiding my friends into getting fit, got my certification and fast forward, I am about to make my debut as a Fitness Diva with the WBFF.
When I decided that I wanted to be a trainer, It didn't cross my mind to compete I just had the heart to help people learn to be healthy and fit and to do it because they loved their bodies, not because they hated them.My cousin Suehade, who is a PRO for the same federation was who inspired me and believed in me enough for me to muster the courage and take on this challenge.

The reason why I decided to compete is because after working out and after my experience in the gym for 3 years now, I wanted a new challenge. Sometimes personal trainers have this idea that they can figure it all out on their own and contrary to that I wanted to learn something new and to be guided professionally with accountability. I wanted to undergo this process for beyond physical reasons. Only people who have suffered from anxiety understand the intensity of the feeling and know that it takes a LOT of mental strength to be able to control and overcome an anxiety attack. I got into fitness not only to build my body but also to build my mind and so that's why I felt it was the right time for me to undergo the process of preparing for a competition. I understood that if I wanted to grow as a person I needed to continuously learn and to continuously be challenged and I am so satisfied with this prep because that is exactly what it has done for me!

I have been able to discover a strength in me both mentally and physically that I never thought I had within. No other process would have been able to teach me what I have learned about myself like this one.
This has been the most rigorous, yet most rewarding period of time in my life. I have not stepped on stage yet but I am content because no matter what happens I know I am stronger,  and I am better than when I first began. I have learned to channel a new level of focus towards a goal regardless of my circumstance and all the havoc going on in my surrounding. My faith, passion and consistency has reached new levels and although these things are intangible, they are the greatest possessions!

Follow Ashley as she makes her WBFF Debut

From Foodie to Fitness....

I started on this competition journey because I was tired of always telling myself I can’t do something because of this and that. I was tired of all the excuses I came up with. Always doubting myself, thinking negatively, having fears about whatever popped up in my crazy head. What introduced me to do one was my sister's competition. Tiffany competed last year at the WBFF Fitness Atlantic show. When I watched her go through this grueling process and saw the final result, I was so inspired. I couldn’t believe how she and all these girls on stage went through this and actually survived! That night my sister ended up winning first place in her division and received her pro card. I was so proud of her because I witnessed all she had to endure and how much she worked at it. I was truly moved by her hard work and how it all paid off in the end!

But even after I saw my sister compete I still wasn’t really sold. I knew what to expect because I saw her go through it. I saw all the foods she couldn’t have at the end of it and how much time she had to put in at the gym.  I thought I could never do this because I love food way too much. Anyone that knows me knows my love for food! But then something changed and I wanted something more. I was tired of the excuses I gave myself. I wanted to challenge myself in every way possible and I knew competing would do that. My sister was the first one to tell me I could do this. I was shocked at how confident in me she was. I talked with her about it and told her my worries mainly about the food I know I wouldn't be able to have. But then she said, it's not like you won't ever have the foods you love ever again. And I realized she was right. It would only be for a period of time where I couldn't have what I wanted. Right then I knew I wanted to compete not only to see myself physically change but also to see my mentality change. I needed to do this to prove to myself that I could. To be able to shut up all the negative things I kept telling myself. From there, I went to an Elite Heat Comp prep workshop and learned everything I needed to know. I told Tiffany’s coach, Malenna I was ready to compete and the rest is history.

Doing this competition was never about me winning against someone else. It has always been about winning against myself.  When I get on stage, I don’t care about what the other competitors, judges, family, friends, coaches think of me. The only thing that matters that day is what I think of myself. That day is for me to realize how much hard work I put into this, waking up at 5:00 AM to do fasted cardio knowing I am not a morning person, lifting after work, spending hours in the kitchen making meals for the week, eating the same bland meals every day, not being able to eat foods that I enjoy, all the social events I couldn’t attend, staying in the gym for 3-4 hours to get all my workouts in. It was about all the challenges I dealt with on a day to day basis that tested my discipline and dedication with how badly I wanted to do this. I wanted more than anything to be better than the person I was before.

This journey has not only made me a better person but it also gave me confidence about myself that I needed. Comp prep was everything I expected and more. It did exactly what I wanted it to do. It has challenged me in every way possible from the food to the workouts. I look at what I have accomplished and what I have learned about myself through this process and it truly amazes me. I learned that if I want something bad enough I will do anything to get it. I’ve learned that I am stronger than I ever gave myself credit for. I am disciplined, have the drive and focus to accomplish whatever I want in life. It has made me a more confident person and believer in myself. I couldn’t be prouder of the person I am becoming!

The one thing that will always stay with me is what I have been telling myself from the beginning of this journey is I am my only competition when I am on stage and even more so when I am off. Nothing can stop me from what I want to accomplish but me! So, in my eyes, I am already a winner no matter the outcome because I did everything I said I couldn’t do and more. That to me is priceless and worth more than first place. I am so happy and grateful I decided to do this and can’t wait to make my debut on stage!! 

Follow Layona's Health and Transformation Journey!

I am a 47 year old registered nurse from Brooklyn.

Four year ago, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, a smoker,  and developed Type II diabetes in which I had to give myself insulin injections twice a day.  After 6 months of this, I decided I needed to take control of my health.  

I found a nutrition class in my neighborhood and started working out at home, but it wasn't enough. I needed to surround myself with people who had already accomplished the weight loss. I began getting active on social media and was inspired by women who have walked in my shoes and gotten fit. Social media is also where I found Malenna Saunders, WBFF Pro Sheri Newton and the Elite Heat ladies.

Spending time with women that were already so beautiful and fit was intimidating at first, but due to the constant encouragement, and checkins from my teammates, I felt like I belonged.  My transformation is a work in progress but to date, I'm a non smoker, no longer taking insulin shots, lost 35lbs with a start of 300lbs, and is still working on getting off the high blood pressure medication.  By working out regularly and keeping a healthy diet, I hope to reach my ultimate goal of competing as a fit model competitor.

With Sheri's help, I feel I will reach my goal. I hope to inspire others to take control of your health. I feel this especially for people in the medical profession, doctors, nurses, etc who should lead by example.  My brother has also been inspired to proceed with his own transformation with Sheri's help.

I would like to thank my family, friends and my Elite Heat sisters for all their encouragement and support!

Follow Theresa as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini Debut!

Family, the tie that binds...

34.  4.  11.  5. My age.  The age of my youngest daughter.  The age of my oldest daughter.  How many years I have been married to my husband. 

176.  The number of days it took me to transform my body.  

2112.  The number of excuses I had to  defy in my head because I was tired, sick, didn’t feel good or was just out right sick of competition prep and wanted to stop.  

Countless.  How many people doubted me or told me that I was attempting to do wasn’t possible or reasonable.

   

For every minute missed with my kids and husband, for anyone who doubted or disagreed that I could make it, for every tear shed and ounce of frustration spent, for every day physically exhausted and hungry for tasty food….these are the reasons why I refused to quit – I was hell bent on defying the odds.  I originally started competition prep for vain reasons….I just wanted to see my abs.  I never had abs of steel but spent countless hours seeing  people with them and thought it would be great to have them (I still laugh when I say that about abs like you can purchase them from a local store).  About three months into competition prep, I had reached my goal, my stomach was flat and my body was toned – I was tired and missed “regular” food – why keep going?  I had to reassess my purpose for attempting to complete this endeavor and I realized there was a deeper purpose than myself.   Any active mom can tell you that your kids mirror your thoughts, actions and behaviors.  My daughters watch everything I do, from the way I resolve conflict to the way I process daily life and speak to other people – if I had quit then, I realized I would only be teaching my daughters that it was okay to “quit when things get hard”, or when you “don’t feel like” continuing even though you committed or “do what was easiest”…and I found myself being hypocritical and violating my own principles.   

Everything my husband and I have tried to teach our girls would be completely undermined by me stopping.   One of the hardest things I’ve ever done is continued something so physically, mentally, emotionally and physically grueling out of principle and prayer (those were the only things left to keep me going).  Both of which have no immediate results….they are both long term investments that will only show returns with prudence, care and patience (all of which I am not the best at).

I am officially three days out from walking across the stage in my first WBFF show and each day is still grueling as the one before but I am at peace, content and full.  Full of gratitude.  Full of grace and full of love.  I do not care if I do not place – I never started this journey for that.  I do not care about the competitive spirits that I will encounter.  I do not care about my body compared to others.  The ONLY thing I care about is making my daughters and my husband proud - for them to see me walk across the stage knowing, they are my reasons for finishing and without them, I would not have finished.  I learned in six months what some people take a lifetime to learn….without LOVE, you will never have purpose or be fulfilled. 

WHO I AM

I am originally from Oakland, California.   I completed my undergraduate work at U.C. Berkeley and my graduate school work at N.Y.U.  I lived in a third world developing country for six months and traveled to over 11 different countries.  I stayed in New York after graduate school and met my husband the same year.   I currently work in the affordable housing sector and have a background in finance and analytics.  I am the youngest of eight kids to immigrant parents and it has definitely shaped my strong and defiant personality.  I love hosting, cooking, baking and all that Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, HGTV stuff! =) As you can tell, my kids and husband are my daily dose of happiness and the small things like ice cream on the stoop with them on a warm summer night is everything to me.

Next Level Fitness

We have had the pleasure of preparing this young athlete for her first bikini fitness competition. Check out her story below and follow her at @cathareinegreer on Instagram as she takes the stage April 2nd in Woodbridge, NJ for the NPC John Kemper Classic.

My name is Catharine Greer and I am 22 years old, from Rye, NY.  While growing up I was always extremely involved in athletics-- I danced ballet, tap and toe, did gymnastics, and I played soccer and basketball.  In middle school I decided to give up all other sports and focus solely on basketball. After years of devoting my weekends to tournaments and countless hours every night for practice, I found myself falling out of love with the sport.  I didn’t find the commitment to the sport enjoyable anymore, but rather it was a chore.  Before entering high school I decided to switch my main sport from basketball to soccer.  While I continued playing both soccer and basketball throughout high school and was the captain of both teams, I went on to become a collegiate soccer player at Tufts University.  As a freshman I was the starting center defender on the women’s varsity soccer team.  After a very successful four years of playing soccer at Tufts, I knew that I wanted to maintain an active lifestyle once I graduated college.  Rather than continuing with soccer, I wanted to pick a sport that allowed me to solely focus on me- a sport in which my results would be directly proportional to my efforts.  That way, I could hold myself 100% accountable.  The perfect sport that fit the bill in my mind was bodybuilding.  


I had gained a lot of experience and developed a love for weight training during the soccer off-seasons at Tufts, where my team would lift with the trainers a few times a week in order to prepare for the next season.  My boyfriend’s passion for lifting and bodybuilding also definitely deepened my interest in the sport.  After graduation, I began lifting on my own almost every day and adopted a moderately healthy diet, so I thought.  While I was putting in hours of hard work, it was very difficult for me to see results.  While the thought of prepping hard for multiple months and walking on stage seemed extremely daunting, I took the leap of faith and contacted Malenna.  It truly was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.  Over the past few months I have learned so much about myself and the sport of bodybuilding.  While the sport is physically taxing, it is definitely just as mentally exhausting.  This sport requires sacrifice, dedication, and persistence; all of which practice mental strength and toughness.  Whether it be getting yourself out of bed at 5 am to do your cardio before work, or resisting all of the tempting foods that surround you on a day-to-day basis, your mental strength is challenged just as much as your physical strength.  There are days that I want to hit the snooze button, there are days that I want to eat that cookie or that slice of pizza, but I never let myself.  In this sport you only get out what you put in.  I put in hard work 110% of the time, because I want the results.  I have grown both physically and mentally over the past few months, and I am excited to see what the future holds for me in the world of bodybuilding.

A little bit more about myself outside of the fitness world, I graduated from Tufts University with a major in Biology.  I am currently working at two different animal hospitals as a veterinary assistant, and my future plan is to go to veterinary school!

For anyone who is considering competing, I would say figure out what truly appeals to you about the sport.  You need to do some soul searching and figure out what your end goal is.  If you want to compete for the glitz and the glam or for the trophy, you are not going to succeed.  Rather, if you want to compete to push yourself physically and mentally, to work towards a healthier you, or to gain confidence about yourself and feel happy in your own skin, then GO FOR IT!!!

Follow Tanisha as she makes her WBFF Transformation Debut!

When the party stops....

I started this journey because I knew that I was overweight and needed to start working out and eating right to lose weight. I decided to put the party girl on hold for a bit and started on a consistent workout program doing boot camps along with changing my eating habits and started to see progress and wanted to keep it up. I never knew about fitness competitions. Once I found out about them, it was something that I did not have any interest in doing.  One day, I asked myself what did I need to to push me to get into shape and live a healthy lifestyle and the solution that I came up with was to prepare for a fitness competition.

I have learned a lot on this journey. At one point, I wasn't comfortable using all of the equipment in the gym but this journey forced me to do what I needed to do in the gym which has now made me super comfortable using all the equipment.  I've learned what works for me nutrition wise, what doesn't and how hard I can push myself in the gym.  How and when to listen to my body and when my mind is telling me yes but my BODY is telling me no. The journey has mentally strengthened me.  I have leaned self control on a different level.  This journey has also been a bit hard health wise since I have type 1 diabetes.  Finding that balance with working out so often, having a limited diet and maintaining stable blood sugar levels has run into some challenges.  I've encountered more than enough hypoglycemic episodes trying to maintain the balance. Through the challenges though, I am still here fighting through to the end.  I am happy that this journey is nearing its' end. I look forward to walking the stage this weekend.

Follow Shelley as she makes her WBFF Diva Fit Model Debut!!!

Circle of Life...

Spring 2010 and my junior year at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI.  My team of four just received our direct work experience project from our professor.  We would be doing a consultant project for Kevin Topka and his gym, Body Language Spoken.  When my group and I were researching Kevin, we were shocked that he was a professional bodybuilder, and put on these "body building competitions".  We pulled up to his gym a few days later and saw all these huge muscle men trophies in the windows.  I remember joking that he would probably break my hand when he shook it.  I mean come on, this guy is huge!  We worked with Kevin for a few months, built relationships,presented our work to him, and then the trimester was over.  When I returned to Providence, after my summer abroad trip, I noticed I gained a lot of weight.  Nervously, I reached out to Kevin to see if we could meet.  Right away, he put me on a 21 day cleanse and taught me the ins and outs of clean eating and living a healthy lifestyle.  On that day, I weighed in at 166lbs and 32.59% body fat.  I couldn't believe it. I was considered obese.  It was time to change my life around.

November 2010, after training with Kevin all summer he asked if I could help work behind the scenes at his annual Body Language Natural Physique Association New England Championship Show. I absolutely said yes.  I honestly thought all these girls were going to look like 'men' but I was wrong. Watching those girls on stage in their sparkling bikinis, tanned skin, toned ( but not super bulging) muscles.  I was stunned.  I wanted to do that.  I mean, they did it. Why couldn't I?  Long story short, there was no way I could fit comp prep into my routine. I was a full time senior in college working two part time jobs, and president of my sorority.  I used to study on the elliptical just to get a workout in.  However, the thought of competing never left my head.

Fast forward four years later, I'm working  in NYC with a full time job at Alternative Investments.  I managed to make it to the gym to lift 3-4 times a week and meal prep, even though I was utterly exhausted from work.  I was still trying to follow the healthy lifestyle habits I had learned just a few years prior.  I followed so many fitness competitors on social media still with the thought in the back of my mind that I wanted to be on stage one day too.  Before I knew it, business picked up and the hours got longer.  The only way to get the work done was to skip the gym.  Soon enough, I was working 10-12 hour days on a regular basis, eating out every day, binge drinking, and being a couch potato on the weekends because I was too tired to do anything else.  The stress was REAL.  I was utterly miserable, depressed and felt disgusted every time I looked in the mirror.  I promised myself that when 2015 started I would do what it took to become a better me.

In the beginning of 2015, I switched jobs, still in the same field, but with half the stress as before.  I finally had free time again.  I slowly got myself back into a gym routine, but something was missing. I knew I needed help to get me where I wanted to be fitness wise, and possibly get on stage.  One Saturday morning, I was at SWERVE, a spin class in Manhattan with a colleague, and ran into an old college friend, Lauren Lelli, who happened to be a WBFF pro.  She told me about her competition experience, her team, (The Elite Heat) and her amazing coach, Malenna Saunders.  I contacted Malenna right away, because this seemed to be the part of my life I was missing. Within a few weeks I was on the Heat 9 crew with my fellow fit sisters training throughout the summer.

Competition prep was rough, both physically and mentally.  Physically, I was excited to be in the weight room.  I enjoy pushing myself, and watching the amount of weight I could lift increase each week.  The heavier I lifted, the more gains I would have.  Who doesn't love the gains?  At the same time, it is tiring pushing your body that much. Mentally, I didn't realize who would actually be there to support me. When I completely switched up my lifestyle and was restricted on doing the same things as others, I began to see people's true colors.  Some friendships were lost, but others were gained in this incredible journey.  I felt that a majority of my prep was a mind game as well as a self-reflection.  It took a lot of will power to say no to food and alcohol.  Also, I had to constantly remind myself that I am doing this for me, and no one else.

Time is almost here until I make my first appearance on the WBFF New England stage and I could not be more excited.  After five years of having this dream goal in the back of my head, it is finally about to become a reality.  I am beyond grateful and appreciative of everyone who has been there for me throughout this journey.  Words cannot express how much your support means. Thank you! Cheers to meal prep Sundays, Costco trips, team sprints, lifting sessions, fasted cardio, ab circuits, pull ups, day dreaming about pumpkin spice everything, photo shoots, posing practices...Countless memories to last a lifetime.

No matter your situation, always remember to KEEP GRINDING!  Someone you don't even know is rooting for you, while someone you know isn't.

Kyedi's Journey to NPC Easterns

Two Steps Forward,..Two Steps Back

It is one year later, and I am competing in the NPC Figure Division for the second time.  In the Brooklyn, I placed fifth in both novice and open, which is considered to be a great start.  Of course, with the help of crtiques, there is always room for improvement.  After the show, I did put on a substantial amount of weight. (40lbs to be exact) due to reintroducing certain foods back into my diet too quickly and some food sensitivities.  I never thought I would put the weight back on especially knowing where I had originally started 10 years ago, close to 300 lbs.  

Somone said to me your “Your off season diet determines your prep when you’re on season”.  It's definitely a lifestyle , not a phase.  This prep was tougher than the first in regards to my diet, which was more restricted, since I had a lot of weight to lose.  It's ok, even though this prep is for my upcoming show, it helped me to get back into shape. Not only did my weight come down, my conditioning and muscularity improved during this process.  My total weight loss to date is 130lbs. 

There are times in life when you have to take two steps back to take one step forward.  I had to go back to the drawing board with both my food and workouts.  With the help of various people I was able to establish a new foundation to get my butt back into shape. I also had to factor in school because it was my graduation year, and my son's graduation year.  During this time, I was able to start my prep and see results instantly.  Once the school year was over I was able to focus on prepping for my next show.  

I am fortunate to have the support of my family and friends through this journey because there are some people that wal this path alone.  A great support system is much needed and appreciated.  the critiques and honesty of the people who have been with me on this second journey to stage is 

greatly appreciated.  It’s not easy as a single parent to balance work, home and school.  If you want something bad enough, you would make every effort to make time for it and get it.  I love to train and compete.  I love the way it makes me feel and look. It feels good when people tell you that you inspire them, especially once they learn of your story which I do not have a problem sharing.  I am proud of what has been accomplished and able to compete once again in the NPC Easterns

We are so proud of this girl. Please show your support via message, comment or attendance at Kyedi's first nationals appearance. 

FRIDAY Featured Athlete - Clare

Nonstop Champion....

It’s one thing to set a goal - it’s quite another to know how to connect your actions to that goal.  I had always enjoyed working out and aspired to being fit, but if I am being honest, I also wanted to look the part, to look like I worked as hard as I did.  I enjoyed running and taking classes, and in 2010, I began training with a triathlon team to attempt to conquer my fear and dislike of swimming.  To some degree, I succeeded - I’ve managed to complete several triathlons, but near constant panic attacks in the water always meant I was last out of the water and I could never make it up on the bike or run.  I am a competitive person, and constantly coming last was tough to take.    The other thing that was frustrating - not looking like I wanted to look.  I felt a bit shallow admitting it to myself, but I wanted to look fit, cut, not skinny-fat as I seemed to, no matter how hard I trained.

In February of 2012, I tore one of my hamstring tendons playing ice hockey and spent the following months trying anything and everything to avoid surgery - to no avail.  Having surgery meant I would have to give up running and biking for months while I went through rehab, and I honestly wasn’t sure I could handle it.  But by spring of 2013, it was clear I didn’t have a choice, and I was going to have to put endurance training aside temporarily and find a new aspect of fitness on which to focus.  As I was getting ready for hip surgery, I happened to read an article in the Wall Street Journal by Elite Heat team member Alyssa Cendrowski, who wrote about training with Malenna for her first fitness competition.  I had never thought of trying this, and thought I’d never have the nerve, and was much too old, to take the stage in a bikini.  I had never owned a regular bikini, much less a tiny, sparkly one.  The only bathing suits I ever wore were of the one piece Speedo variety.  But I wanted to look the part.  I contacted Malenna and began setting new goals - if I couldn’t run, bike or do much lower body exercise, I could learn to do pull ups.   I was really worried about gaining weight, not having all that cardio to fall back on, but the fact was, the cardio wasn’t getting it done anyway.  Working with Malenna, I learned you can’t out-train a bad diet.  Starting with the Advocare 24 day cleanse, I became much more aware of what I was eating and what it was - and wasn’t - doing for me.  Gradually, I let myself believe that I could prep for a show, and in May 2014 I competed at Fitness America.  It was easily one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, and while I didn’t place very high, I ended up a better and fitter athlete as a result.  In fact, the day after the show, I raced a duathlon - a run/bike/run event, a triathlon with no swimming.   No swim meant no panic attacks and no anxiety - and thanks to focused strength training, I am much more injury proof than I used to be.  Many runners and endurance athletes skimp on weights and it’s a mistake.  But it took training with Elite Heat to take it to heart. I’ve been focusing on endurance sports this year, and have qualified for the age-group Duathlon World Championships in Australia this year and Spain next year.  My running has improved greatly as well, and I am hoping to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  As I turn 50 in two months, I’m in better shape than a decade ago, and looking forward to what’s next.  I’m not the best, the fastest, the most talented - not by a long shot.   But I keep showing up at the start line.

WBFF Diva Bikini Competitor Kiya!!

Better than Before

The date of the WBFF NYC show is a benchmark for me in many ways.  Not only is it my second show with WBFF but July 11th, 2014 marked the last day at a company I loved and believed I would build a long career.  At that time, I was devastated that a decision had been made for me about my career and its' future.  I thought what would be next after taking a risk and trying something new.  I accepted my fate, even though I thought I didn't have a plan on my next steps.



I refocused my energy on myself and set out on a mission of self discovery, happiness, and balance.  I figured I couldn't fail if I took a risk on myself at the end of this journey. I leaped off the edge and found myself stronger, more confident and able to tackle any obstacle in front of me.  A year of self discovery, hard work, and perseverance has gotten me where I am today. It's not easy being judged on anything you do.  I know from my experiences, that if you put the work into yourself, no one can ever take that away from you.  I am here and in less than 2 days, I will hopefully take home a win not only for me but for my team, the Elite Heat.  With each challenge over the last year, I've grown exponentially, more than I could have ever imagined.  It's time to celebrate!! Nothing will stop me now.