WBFF Diva Bikini Competitor Suehade

If I had to do it over....

The question I get asked the most is " Why are you doing this?".  My answer is always the same.  I do it for the gains, both physically and mentally.  I've always enjoyed working out.  I love the science behind it. The strength aspect of bodybuilding, seeing progress (even if it is slow, little progress) and working towards a goal.  I am the queen of anxiety, and lifting became my stress reliever and somewhat therapeutic for me.  The time I spend at the gym is my 'me time'.

I decided to compete after my sister convinced/begged me to. I took the opportunity to help me get to where I wanted to be physically but what I got out of it was so much more. You will be surprised how much you learn about yourself when the pressure is on.  You'll tell yourself a million reasons to quit but hold on to that one reason not to. It has helped me build character and discipline.  It has made me a little more fearless and carefree.

It took me a whole year before saying yes to competing because I feared failure, rejection and criticism.  I feared everything and often did not try new things. Now, I look back at things and say, 'Why didn't I go for it?'  'Why was I so scared?'  ' Who cares what people think?'  If it makes me happy, why not???  In this particular case, my complaining about food and soreness may make it seem like I am not happy, but I really am enjoying myself. :D

I am going on my third show, and every prep is a different experience.  I don' t remember much about what I did on stage, but I do remember the journey. I remember Clare, Josie, and I dancing backstage waiting on the ok to eat carbs. I remember Jasmine and I standing side by side throughout the competition cheering each other on.  For this show, my goal is to bring a better version of me. Not matter the outcome, I know I busted my ass and I know how far Ive come. In reality, it's me vs me.

This show has also been special to me because now I will be sharing the stage with 8 beautiful women from my team. We started the journey together and I've witnessed their growth, hard work and dedication.  I can't wait to see us strut our stuff. In the words of Marj, 'we cute'.

I thank everyone who has put up with me during prep.  My amazing coach and teammates whom inspire me everyday.  I thank you.  To my support crew, Azzie, Arianda and Mayra, I appreciate you guys and wouldn't be able to do this without you there.  But a huge special, on my knees, kiss the floor thank you goes to my Mom.  She has been recovering from her second spinal surgery but has gone above and beyond for me, prepping my meals, hunting down my dress and coming along with me whenever I needed a hand.  Best Mom EVER!

I'm not saving the world here, but it's nice to know you're surrounded by awesome people who will support you in whatever mess you decide to get into.  Some people may not full understand the why, but that's ok. They don't have to.  This lifestyle is not an easy one. It doesn't make me special nor does it make me better than anyone, but it's the one I chose.  It's the one that has made me healthier both physically and mentally.  On that note, I am so read to do this.

I still get nervous, but that's part of the fun....

Follow Jennifer as she makes her WBFF Diva Fitness Model Debut!!!

The world is my stage..... 

My fitness journey has been just that - a journey.  A journey filled with self doubt and fear.  I've been struggling to lose weight my entire adult life.  I'm a confident girl, but I've never been able to look in the mirror and feel confident about my body.  I would look at the other girls and friends and think , " I wish I had that small waist or tight stomach", but in truth wouldn't stick to a diet long enough to have it. I am an aspiring actress and at the end of the day, the last thought I want to have when I don't book a role is ' Is it because of the way I look?'  My weight has fluctuated over the years but never to a point where I felt like it was my best.  This is where I had it wrong.  I needed to worry less about my weight and more about my lifestyle.  I had to ask myself what does it take to have the body I want.  Well, for starters it takes a lifestyle, not a quick fix diet that will put me back in the same position once it was over.  In the past, I've had personal trainer, worked out 5-6 days a week but I learned all that was useless unless I decided to change the way I eat.

2013 I decided to give it another go.  I was looking for a personal trainer in which I could feel comfortable with and who would motivate me to push myself.   I met Malenna Jan 2013, and shortly learned that she was just what I needed and more.  Although, she had been consistent in doing her part, I was not.  I still wasn't giving it 100 percent.  IT'S HARD. VERY HARD. Food makes me happy.  I needed something sweet everyday to fulfill my cravings.  I started slowly winging myself off tings such as pastas, breads, and alcohol.  After about 6 months of training with her, she started telling me more about her team and about competing.  I wasn't really listening because I didn't think someone like me had the will power to get onstage to compete in a fitness competition.  I didn't think I could be determined enough to say not to my cocktails, bagels, cakes, cookies, and so forth.  Actually, I didn't want to. But how could I get the body I wanted if I wasn't willing to make sacrifices? Well I couldn't.  I would ask her questions and even started searching online for what it took to compete but I stayed quiet for so long about it because i as afraid of saying it out loud. Me compete?  Yeah right.

About 3 months ago, I still wasn't making the progress I wanted to make so I told Malenna that I thought I wanted to compete.  Without hesitation, she said, " Okay. I know you can do it"  She has had so much confidence in me from the beginning and it's because of her confidence and faith in me, that I am doing this. I knew at the end of the day, if I set a goal to compete in a fitness competition, that I would do my absolute hardest because I didn't want to be the 'big girl' onstage next to all the other sexy athletes.

Here I am eleven weeks later and I have to honestly admit that it's been probably the hardest experience of my life.  I struggled the entire time and my biggest one was saying no to sweets.  Sugar is really addictive.  Yes, I failed at time. No I didn't devour cakes and cookies like I used to. The most important thing is I really gave it all I got.  This has definitely been a learning experience.  Do I have the body I always imagined?  No, I don't but I do have the best body I have ever had in my life. I am still earning and struggling.  This isn't the end for me.  In fact, I wanted to compete to make a new beginning for myself.  I wanted to learn self control and discipline so that I could input that in other ares of my life as well.  If I want the body of my dreams. I have to control what I put into it - bottom line.  I've lost more than 20 pounds, and will continue to get better from here.  After this show is over, I will take time to reflect on my mistakes and work hard to get better.  This isnt' over and I'm looking forward to living a git and healthy lifestyle.

Follow Mary as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini Debut!!

A 'Classic' ...

Mary's first show

In the last year since my debut on the fitness competition stage, I have continued to dedicate my time to improving my physique.  The experience a year ago was so exciting, that doing it again was absolutely a must for me.

Mary and her daughter Ayana

Competition preparation does come with its' challenges and at times, I've questioned why I am doing it.  The doubts usually come right around the time I wish I could have pizza and a glass of wine.  It's those momentary lapses that make me more committed to my goal, overcoming those hills and valleys are what count.  It's not just that moment on stage that does it for me, although it's pretty awesome.  It's the fact that I have worked so hard on my physique and presentation to be able to grace the stage with so many others that have done the same.  The sacrifices that come with being a part of the fitness competition world like dietary changes, limited social life, hours in the gym, muscle soreness, and those
occasional mood changes, are the things that give me that proud feeling. The whole process doesn't sound pretty, but you get to showcase all that hard work in front of an audience of strangers, family, friends, and of course, the judges.  I count my blessings every day. The average woman my age (40+) is not putting her body through such rigors.





The reality is that more women my age are just getting into fitness to help alleviate or reverse some lifestyle related issue.  I made a decision a long time ago not to be a part of that statistic. Instead, I would rather be am inspiration or motivation to others.  "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem" So, as I prepare for my second show, I welcome all the challenges and I am grateful for all the support from my family, Coach Malenna and my team, the Elite Heat.

Come July 26th, I am gonna bring it!!

Cary - WBFF Diva Bikini Competitor

Leading by example....

WBFF New England 2013

Why am I competing again? And why this show ?

To be honest, it was a struggle to commit to it at the beginning.  I kept questioning whether I was ready or not. I questioned more the MENTAL aspect than the physical. Then, I wondered, once my mind caught up, will my body be stage ready on time? Blood , sweat, tears , discipline and hard work all go into competing. I wasn't so worried about giving up my guilty pleasures such as peanut butter , chocolate , wine and social gatherings with friends and family (well perhaps a little), It was more about failure.





Failure of starting something and not finishing it all the way through. I then decided that the not knowing is what probably would be worse.  As a teacher I lecture my students all the time about having to work hard to achieve their goals and to not think of how long it would take them because the time will go by anyway. So, here I go. I hope I can be a good role model and set an example to others to crush their goals either way regardless of their starting point or how long it will take them. We just have to be willing to put in the work.

I also can't imagine a better place to walk on stage than in Times Square NYC. I'm a Brooklyn born and raised girl and I'm proud to represent my home town.

Follow Amy as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini Debut

The Man behind the Motivation...

Growing up as the youngest with two older brothers, following in their footsteps seemed only natural.  So,  with my brothers followed sports and more sports. From as far back as I can remember, I was always active. My mom always joked that I could roller-skate, yes roller-skate, before I could even walk. I would play my father’s Motown record in the basement and skate around for hours. I played sports my entire life, from track, to cross country, recreational basketball and many years of soccer.

It was not until 10 years ago when I decided to purchase my first gym membership to get "fit." I was introduced to a trainer, Mark Haley, who was assigned to complete my fitness assessment.  My jaw dropped as soon as I was introduced to this very handsome man and the humiliation immediately set in as he began timing how many push-ups and sit-ups I could do in 1 minute. " Is this guy serious??", I thought, as I began sweating profusely in my Umbro shorts and soccer tee-shirt. Clearly, I was not in as good of shape as I thought I was, due to my results. Trust me when I say,  after that assessment my fitness apparel and gym appearance stepped up more than just a notch!! Now I had a new challenge to get in shape...NOPE! To date this guy Mark! Needless to say,  I was blessed to marry Mark in November of 2012. He has been so influential in my life of fitness and has been my biggest fan. It was not until our honeymoon when I said to him I would one day like to compete in a fitness show. 

God works in amazing ways because the January following my wedding, I stumbled across the Fitness Atlantic Facebook page where the Elite Heat team's competition preparation poster was advertised. I took myself completely out of my comfort zone and joined the team at an introductory meeting. The team was very warm and I was extremely impressed by the transformations the teammates had made as they prepared for their shows. It was very hard for me to commit to a show due to fear and what my family would think of this. From the second I mentioned it my husband and parents they were 100% supportive. They were a little unsure as to what exactly I was about to embark on, but so was I. It was not until my knees started buckling on stage at my first show as I posed in a cupcake costume that I officially was proud of myself. The mental challenge of prepping for a show cannot be explained in words.



Excitement and anxiety of the unknown is what has taken over me at this point as I prepare for my first WBFF show. Me stepping on stage is 100% a personal choice and for me not about placing, but about the challenge and feelings that are tied to setting a goal and achieving it!

 .

Courtney Allen - WBFF Diva Fit Model Competitor

So much more to gain...

Photo credit SFX Photography

When I joined The Elite Heat some time back, I never expected to compete. And then a star fell from the sky, knocked some sense into me and I remembered how much I love to challenge myself. So I competed. And I was hooked!! Then I decided to do more than be active, fit and strong. I decided I wanted to re sculpt my body and embark on an unexpectedly LOOOOONG road of bulking. 

Last summer marked the start of a new 2 year acting conservatory at William Esper. This was on the heels of my first competition, and the beginning stages of "bulking". I can recall taking pride in my new body, enjoying the look and feel of things and quietly blushing at the lovely compliments I received from my classmates. Then things progressed, and bulking got REAL! I was new to it all and had no idea what to expect, on any level. 

A few months in, I realized I couldn’t fit into some of my favorite clothing. A close friend told me that I looked “Full”….and secretly, I wanted to cry. In those moments I began to recognize an ugliness that I’d let seep into my spirit making me insecure about my physical imperfection. I was heartbroken by the idea of having developed an insecurity with my transformation. But even more so, I was deeply disappointed with myself. How could I have become so shallow? So superficial? How would this affect me as an actress? I can't be this fluffy? What is this extra stuff? But wait, why am I judging it? What standards was I trying to measure up to?  And as I beat myself up over this, I fell deeper and deeper into my discomfort and confusion. It was no longer just a physical thing. This journey began to open itself up as an emotional struggle. Between training, and classes, I felt like a train wreck. But I continued to push.Through the extra pounds, the ripped jeans, the "harmless comments".... One day at a time. I allowed myself to experience these very human feelings. These very human ups and downs. These very human doubts and struggles. I stopped judging them. And myself. In doing that, I slowly began to heal. I allowed myself to experience the process more freely, openly and with unconditional love. I began to restore a healthy body image, reignite my relationship with food and find a NEW, more comfortable balance with who I am, where I am going and everything in between. Sure, my body is my temple. But my spirit is the intangible essence that is Me.

I will be honest and admit that I absolutely eat for pleasure. For joy. For experience. But that all takes on new meaning for me. I find joy and pleasure in eating healthy foods that make my body feel amazing. I take pride in working out and find that I am building both my body and my character when I lift like a beast and sweat like an animal. I am proud of the skin I am in, with all of its muscles, lady lumps, curves AND human flaws. As I look back on the past year plus, I am glad to have allowed myself to fall apart in order to find treasures painfully hidden in the nooks, crannies and crevices of my being. Grateful to my family and friends for their patience and to my partner in crime, my Elite Heat Sis, Dawn, who got me to the gym at 630am on those cold winter mornings when all I wanted to do was roll over and sleep. Thanks for weathering the storm right along with me. I am bringing both of our hard work, blood, sweat and tears to the stage! It was only after I allowed things to get messy, that I was able to begin making myself whole again. This time, stronger, bolder, wiser, happier and with more mass

At just 6 weeks out, after missing out on THREE (3) previous WBFF shows over the course of 7 months, I asked myself “Court. Why do this? Why compete?” ....In that moment I could not answer the thought. I could only keep searching for the “Why?” until finally it hit me, in the most random moments. I am sure I was stuffing my face with asparagus when I was reminded “You are doing this as a celebration of all you have done to become who you are today.” It has never been about competing with anyone other than myself. And my very best.

Thankful to my coach for trusting me enough to allow me to learn. First go round, I relied so much on what I was being told to do, every step of the way. This time around, I am applying knowledge learned from others while finding my own way. I will walk away from this experience feeling grounded, armed with information and full of confidence in tomorrow. It's strange to imagine just how amped I am about post show maintenance, but the truth is, this is my new life. My new body. And my new perspective.

I am excited to take the stage, in my home town of NEW YORK CITY, and celebrate my courage to break myself down only to build a stronger, better version of myself. How wonderful to share that joy with my beautiful and supportive family AT HOME! The road to the WBFF NYC Stage has been so much more than a fitness adventure. It has been a journey and evolution of my full person. 

What a journey

This past weekend the ladies participated in our final show for the season. The WBFF New England Fitness and Fashion Weekend, hosted in Providence, Rhode Island.  It was a whirl wind of excitement, anxiety, and emotions.  The 16+ weeks of prep from posing, makeup, hair, tanning, workouts, bikinis, theme wear, gowns, heels, all finally had to come together for prelims and finals for a few brief moments on the stage. The ladies put in SO much work and determination to feverishly flaunt their bodies in a few microseconds of time to be compared to 30-50 other well polished athletes.  It was an amazing day.

We took 6 ladies to this show. We had 4 place top 10, three of which placed top 5. To place top 10 at this event in and of itself is an amazing accomplishment. You walk a stage for 60-90 seconds to give judges time to decide whether you are fit to be the next 'WBFF Pro' against 50 other athletes that are working equally as hard to prove the same. Sitting in the audience for over 3 hours just for the pre judging reminded me of how grueling this process can be both on the athletes as well as the judges.

As much as I love these shows, I am thankful for the finish. The team competed in 7 shows this year and we are already prepping for 2014.  With the ups and downs of these events, I learn something new about our team, the industry, coaching, even myself and am grateful for these opportunities of growth. What I am most grateful for is the growth I see in each of these ladies as they continue to become stronger both physically and mentally. Every day better people, teammates, and friends.

Congratulations ladies...And thank you for making this an amazing season.

Follow Sarah Koste as she makes her FIGURE debut with WBFF

Saving the best for last.....

Sarah is not new to the stage, fitness or competition. Having been an athlete all of her life, being a personal trainer herself and competed in 3 shows to date, one of which placing first in figure, she is what most would consider a seasoned athlete. Sarah shares here her story.....

I have a passion for training my clients and getting them to where they need to be, but realized I wanted more for myself about 14 months ago. I took my training to another level and last year September 4th 2012 I decided I was going to compete in a fitness show and fulfill my goals of stepping on stage as a figure competitor.

As a fitness competitor, there are many challenges that come into your life while preparing for a show. Competing can sometimes feel like it takes over your life-because it does! You have to be mentally tough and I have learned a lot about myself and how I deal with life in general. I have changed for the better, physically and mentally.

A few months into my training, I was having a tough time with some changes that were going on with my body. I had lost a lot of body fat and my chest had disappeared. I was very self conscious about this and I despised chest workouts. I was training with a male trainer that I feel didn't 'get me'. I met a few girls on my team soon after I left this trainer and I haven't looked back since. Within a few weeks, I was on the team, had different goals set out for myself and was ready to work! 

I want to thank everyone I have in my life that supports my fitness goals and my journey. My family, my friends, my coach, and my teammates. My nickname during my last week before each show is 'crazy'. Competing is hard to understand unless you put yourself through the process. I love everything about competing and I am excited for my next show. 

I can look back in this last year and be very proud of myself. Consistency is key. Discipline is key. Goals were set and I got to work. I am part of an amazing team and support system- we are The Elite Heat and we will be burning up your stage!


Eat, sleep, train. Never skip a workout. Become your dream!

In two days, Giselle will make her WBFF DIVA Bikini debut!

The Ties that Bind....

Two years ago from today,  Giselle  decided to make a change in her  life.  A change that began with a conscious decision to want a different lifestyle than what she had traditionally known.   A change that required her  not only to eat less but differently and build a physique that again, traditionally and culturally were not necessarily acceptable.  ' I remember the minute I started to lose the weight, my family was concerned ... they thought I looked too skinny...but in reality, I was the healthiest I have ever been in life." 

This  journey started for Giselle when she joined the the  Elite Heat and was introduced to her soon to be coach, Malenna Saunders.  ' The main reason I joined this group was because it was not just based on competitions, but lifestyle changes and other goals, recognizing that you have to be able to maintain a proper balance both on and off the stage.' 

The transition not only provided Giselle a healthier physique, but allowed her to be an inspiration to her friends and family.  Seeing her transform provided the confidence and courage to others close to her to reach out and try and do the same.  

" Honestly, my journey has not been easy.  It's had its' ups and downs,  but seeing my body change throughout the year made everything worth it. Being able to do things I had never imagined ...and doing it, ..it is the most amazing feeling ever.   And ,  I have been able to inspire my friends and some family members to change their habits and become healthier,  which was one of my goals when I first started."  

With a couple of shows under her belt, and wins to match, this lady will now grace the stage in Providence, RI for the first time, as a WBFF Diva Bikini Model athlete.

'Now that I'm a few days away from my first WBFF show, I'm super excited to take on this new challenge in my life.'  Look out for her, as she rocks the stage in less than 2 days!...The best of the best! 

Watch Jadi as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini debut

Although Jadi is new to the WBFF stage, she is definitely not new to the stage.  This beauty stands at a mere 5 feet but a force to be reckoned  with. Don't take our word for it. This personal interview says it all.

"I can't even begin to tell y'all how thrilled I am to be debuting on the WBFF stage. I have always been kinda "fit," but in recent years, I just haven't quite been able to get back to my "no flab just fab" days. So here’s the deal, I’m an actor, and the reality is that appearance DOES matter. If I am doing all that I can in terms of training and skill, then I need to be doing all I can to physically look the part too.  I found the ELITE HEAT through my good friend WBFF Pro Esther Lopez and I was on track to reach my goal. So what’s my goal? LLP: Leading. Lady. Physique. 

I want to be lean, sculpted and solid as a rock… without losing my curves of course.

  

Prior to this, I could not tell you what the inside of a gym looked like and was rather intimidated by lifting so finding inspiration and motivation to hit the weights 4-5 days a week was quite a challenge and a complete shock to my system.  And don't even get me started on food prepping! Phewww, I almost freaked out the night I had to turn on the oven; nonetheless, this journey has and continues to push me past what I believed my limitations were and is exactly what I strive for.  I strive to live in a world of YES, a world where the "best" is defined by whatever our minds conceive, believe, earn and achieve.

After all, the best of the best DOES compete with the WBFF; so tell me, what will you say yes to?"

Brandy Jean's journey to her WBFF Diva Bikini Debut

Finding home away from Home 

When Brandy moved to New York from Washington, D.C.  in 2011, it was a very hard transition.

“I grew up in Washington, D.C. and it has always been “home” for me. I was surrounded by long-time friends and family. Unsurprisingly, that manifested itself in my outlook and physical condition. I worked out regularly (and even competed at the collegiate level in my sport of choice, Cross Country). In short, I was happy, healthy and comfortable.”

When she moved to New York, however, things changed. She disliked New York from the outset and immediately fell out of her comfort zone. It took a long time for her to make new friends and she grew increasingly depressed. She stopped exercising and gained a lot of weight. That slowly began to change one day in 2012, when one of her friends invited her to attend a Phoenyx Fitness “Boot Camp” class. It sounded interesting and she purchased a "Groupon" for several classes. The class was very challenging and made her realize how out of shape she was. Unfortunately, at that time, she was not quite ready to dedicate herself and she stopped attending classes. After the Groupon expired, she started a new job, which was highly stressful and involved long hours, and she fell back into a personal slump. she lost even more confidence, stopped working out entirely and had a terrible diet.  She never forgot, however, how great the Phoenyx “boot camp” class made her feel. The “seed” of change had been planted (even if it would take some time to grow).

By late 2012, she was the heaviest and most of out of shape she had ever been in her life.

“My clothes no longer fit me and I “maxed” out at 145 pounds. So-called friends, family and colleagues continuously made rude comments and reminded me about my appearance. On top of this, I found out from my doctor that I had high cholesterol. In early 2013, I had reached my breaking point. In short, I was finally just fed up with myself! I decided to make maintaining a healthier lifestyle a priority, to become the BEST me that I could be and step out of my shell. I remembered at this point how much I had enjoyed the Phoenyx classes I had attended and ended up signing up for several kettlebell classes in January of 2013. I looked forward to attending each class. But, naturally, I was anxious to find out just how far I could push myself.”

One day after a kettlebell class, she noticed that a few girls from the class had put on clear high heels and overheard them talking about bikini suits. When she asked them what they were talking about, one of the  girls told her that she was a member of a fitness team named “Elite Heat” and told her about a fitness competition they were training for. At once, she knew that that was what she wanted to do. 

" In fact, it felt like a sign. Years ago, when I was in college, I met some women who trained for fitness competitions. The women were very inspiring to me and made me realize that I wanted to compete someday. I knew that the discipline involved in becoming stronger, maintaining a healthier life style and building the self-confidence needed to compete would be amazing! Competing in fitness competitions has been on my “bucket list” since that time (i.e., 2003)."

After hearing about the Elite Heat team, she expressed her interest in joining the team to the instructor of her kettlebell class (and, coincidentally, the Elite Heat coach and leader), Malenna Saunders. She accepted her with open arms and she joined the Elite Heat team in the middle of February. 

" Since that time, Malenna and my  Elite Heat teammates have been amazing! I have attended several competitions supporting my teammates. In July, I decided that I was ready to accept the challenge - - to compete in a fitness competition this year (and cross that off my “bucket list")!  In the last few months, I dedicated my life to achieving my goal. I changed my diet, began working out extensively, and generally cut unhealthy or negative things out of my life. By October 2013, I had lost 30 pounds and changed my outlook completely. Last week, I competed in my first fitness competition and placed! Although I am excited that I placed, I am more proud that I accomplished my goal of making it on stage in the first place. "

Needless to say, surrounding herself with the positive and inspirational people at Elite Heat (who are now her “Fit Family”) has been integral in helping her reach her goal. In addition, her boyfriend, family and close friends that have been very supportive has helped her through the challenging process. ' I am very thankful for their support. ' 

" My “Fit Journey” has been a life-changing process for me. It has given me self-confidence and allowed me to realize one of my life-long goals. It has also allowed me to grow to accept (and even like) New York and to realize that life is entirely what you make of your situation(s). Although there were times when it was difficult, and I don't expect everyone to understand my journey, that is okay with me. It is and has been "MY" journey. I have come a long way and I am proud of myself for all I have accomplished this year. Hopefully, what I’ve done may inspire others to take “fit journeys” of their own. I am already looking forward to a stronger year for 2014!"