What I love most about fitness is that you don't compete with anyone else but yourself. You can always be better than you were yesterday. It teaches you patience and consistency and once you start seeing results, you get addicted. You want to get stronger, lift heavier, run faster, jump higher...or whatever your goal might be. Fitness is a way of life. You don’t always feel motivated, but once you push yourself and finish the work out you didn’t feel like doing, you feel accomplished and proud of yourself.

I have been active my whole life, but as I think back, I always did individual sports like dancing or snowboarding. I left my home country of the Czech Republic about 6 years ago, and didn’t really know which way my career would go. I feel like I tried everything. Then I found a book I purchased years ago when I was playing with the ideaof becoming a fitness trainer. I finally studied the book, passed the test and became certified. I quit my job and became a trainer for a local gym. When I look back, I see the huge growth I had been through as a trainer. I love my job. I love being independent and being my own boss. I love leading by example, educating my clients on a healthier lifestyle and helping them reach their goals. I used to work for David Barton Gym on the upper east side. After they shut their doors down, I started to work independently. I have a beautiful relationship with all of my clients and I love to hear their positive feedback and be part of the reason they feel healthier and stronger.

I decided to compete a couple years ago but felt it was not the right time, until January of this year. I knew the time was right and it’s either now or never. I jumped on and through some ups and downs I have loved the journey over all. It’s not easy but it is not impossible. I wanted to move higher as a trainer, get more experience, learn new stuff and also see, where I can take my body. So many times I felt like I am working against nature, gravity and common sense (lol) but it was worth it and I have learned so much on a physical and mental level. I decided to do my first show in Los Angeles as I felt like I can stay more motivated and I have been looking for any reason to go to LA to hug the palm trees! :) My big day is Saturday, April 7th!

Wish me luck! :)

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

(Wo)Man in the Mirror.....

My name is Jennifer Castillo. I am 23 years old, and I will be competing for the first time on July 11th.  My reason for competing is deeper than just wanting to look pretty on stage and showing off my muscles.  Its about a journey on building self confidence and finding happiness within myself.  For many years, I was self conscious about how I looked because I believed I didn't have an attractive feminine body.  I would always tell myself I looked like a 12 year old boy with no behind and a man chest. Because of that, I considered myself to be ugly.  My own negative thoughts were eating me alive.  Now I have learned that is is not how you look that makes you beautiful but how you feel about yourself on the inside.  Fitness brought me the confidence I needed to believe in myself not just because working out kept my body in shape but the happiness it gave me.  Everyday, I look forward to going to the gym and challenging my body and everyday I surprise myself on what my body is capable of doing.  In the back of my mind, I always thought of the idea of wanting to compete but I've always been such a shy person.  I couldn't imagine myself walking across a state in front of hundreds of people.  It wasn't until I met former Elite Heat member Laura, who introduced me to the Elite Heat and the world of beauty and fitness.  I saw all the amazing pictures of her transformation throughout here competition years and it truly inspired me.  I thought to myself, if she can do it, then why can't I.




On July 11th, I will no longer be this shy girl who's self conscious about herself. Instead, I will be a strong confident woman showing everyone how happy I am to be in my own skin.