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! :)

WBFF Fit Model and Bikini Competitor Jasmine

Normally, the write ups are submitted from the athlete's perspective. Since this athlete posted from a previous show, we are doing something different and presenting from the coach's angle.

"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it.' -- The Lion King

COACH's CORNER

When I was choosing pictures for this write up, the above picture was EVERYTHING, but let me start from the beginning. 

Jas joined the team 2 years ago, almost exactly. At 22, she was the youngest on our team and if her energy and spunky attitude didn't tell you that, the fact that she hails at a towering 5 feet tall didn't help.  Working with her initially was a different challenge. Most of the ladies were older, already working professionals, some married so priorities SLIGHTLY different than a young, fresh out of college sorority girl. We had to put things like parties, alcohol and junk food on the back burner. Jas has always had an amazing support system so with the help of her mother (food preparer), father (motivator) and sister (voice of reason) she pulled things together and in the fall of the same year, competed in her first show, WBFF Rhode Island. Placing top 5 in her first, show, she did really well coming out of the blocks.

Second show quickly approached the following summer, WBFF NY 2015. She graced the stage with 6 other ladies from the team and took a stab at the Fit Model category.  She didn't have a placement in this show, and I knew she was disappointed, but she was determined to hit the stage again. She had her sister's wedding to prepare for later that year, and financially, as well as mentally wanted to be in the right mindset so decided to wait until at least spring of 2016. At the end of 2015, we revisited the conversation and moved forward with a fresh mindset but also an accountability change. How the stage isn't owned by your competition, but by you. How you need to bring your BEST no matter who shows up because THAT is the only thing within your control. How WINNING is about your mentality, and perception. Not the judgement of 5-7 strangers sitting at a long table in front of you.

 

FAST forward to the first picture. The GIRL I met 2 years ago has grown to the WOMAN pictured above. Focused, dedicated, hard working, determined, relentless,..unbroken. It's one thing to try something. You don't always win, and you don't always get what you want. The winners get up, and try again and again, knowing that the outcome isn't as important as getting better. 

Jasmine has continued to bring a better package each time to the stage...July 30th is no exception. Check out her updates on IG @jleeabreu and visit www.wbffshows.com for ticket info if you are in the area!!

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.

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

The grass is not always greener...

For me, the journey to stepping on stage has been emotionally trans formative as it has been physically.

Growing up I was criticized constantly for being too skinny.  People would make comments about it relentlessly - "Ugh, you're SO skinny", "Go eat a cheeseburger","Easy for you to say, you're skinny!"  As many comments as the people made about wanting to be skinny, I began hating myself for it, and became extremely self -conscious of how long and lean I was.

Everyone is met with obstacles in life, and I was faced with a few that really knocked me down and kept me down for a while.  But after each one I pressed forward stronger and learned to grow from each challenge I was faced with. The problem was that as much as I had accomplished and as much adversity as I had overcome, inside I still felt like that skinny self- conscious little girl I had always been.  I couldn't shake her.  

For me, there is something that translates from physical strength into being able to feel confident in all other areas of your life. The first time I stepped into the weight room at the gym, I had not idea what I was doing. I just anted to get in shape for summer.  What it turned into was something so much greater than I had ever imagined.  The more work I put in at the gym to becoming physically stronger, the more my emotional strength befitted. 

After a while, I started asking myself "what next" - I loved the changes I was seeing in my mind and body and loved that every day I was becoming a better version of myself than the day before.  With that in mind, I decided I wanted to start competing and joined the Elite Heat to surround myself with like minded women searching for the same things I was.

One thing I know for sure is that this competition is not the end of my journey; it's the very beginning. When you are on a mission to be the very best you can be, there's no tellin where your drive will take you.

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 Marjorie as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini Debut !!!

A Different Race to the Finish

Fitness, working out and body maintenance has always been at the foreground of my life.  Whether it was running half marathons, bikram yoga or spinning classes, I've always been physically active.  But over the years, I had reached a plateau in my owrkout regiments and began to lose interest in exercising.  It became more of a chore instead of something fun to do.

Two years ago, I began gathering information on the world of bodybuilding and competing.  I had been following a few professional athletes on social meda for some time now, and decided that I was up for the challenge.  Following their tranformation and how they morphed into having these beatiful physiques made me want to compete even more.  I figured, " I can do this. Lift some weights, eat some chicken and I'm good right?" WRONG!

This process has been a true test of my will, determination, and tenacity.  But how much fun I've had throughout this entire process negates all tof the days I wanted to give up.  I've also found comraderie and friendship amongst my fitness/compeititon teammates of the Elite Heat.

The changes I've gone through physically and mentally over the past 7 months have been paramount. Hitting the competition stage in less than 2 weeks is just the icing on the cake.  I'm going to bring my best to the stage and KILL IT! Don't believe me?....Just watch.

Follow Tiffany as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini DEBUT!!!

My journey to the stage is a funny one. I look back and think, "How did I get here?".  It seems it was always in the cards for me....

I'm 5'11" with an athletic build.  The athletic build is really accredited to my "Johnson shoulders"  Everyone in my family has them. Like we never needed shoulder pads!  I was a competitive cheerleader in high school.  We were required to run a mile, lift and fly girls in the air and get though a three minute routine with a smile.  Don't get me wrong.  I considered myself an athlete as a cheerleader because all of those things were hard, challenging, and took team work to accomplish.  But I kept getting pegged for this 'athlete' who played some kind of ball, swam or ran some kind of race. The truth was, that I hated gym class and really hated when they would make us go to the weight room.  My idea of fit was on some kind of cardio machine or in cheer practice. A girl had no business being in the weight room.  It didn't help either when I entered college that I was the manager on the girls' basketball team.  People still think I played on the team. Clearly they didn't attend any games.

A few years later, I was living in Brooklyn and joined a gym.  Fitness had always been in my life.  As a kid, my mother was a jazzercise queen.  So, it was natural to join a gym and get back on the elliptical, take some dance classes and lose some weight.  I had gained a few pounds during my transition from the quiet suburbs of NJ to the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn, and the abundance of fast food places open after 9PM!!!  That's where I discovered pole fitness. After months and months of practice, I was able to lift myself up in the air and do 'tricks' while I was up there.  I was addicted. It had become my adult cheerleading.  I had completely forgotten about losing weight and just focused on sticking the next 'trick'.  Before I knew it, my athletic build was showing up even more and I could do pushups and pull ups with ease.  I was getting stopped on the train with people asking me how I got my arms so toned  The faces when I told the what I was doing was hilarious.

I was amazed how stron I was getting , how much I loved my new body with muscle tone and wanted to get stronger, but just didn't know how.  I heard it over and over again to get in the weight room.  But that place was just not a place I saw many women. I didn't like the idea of being in that area with a bunch of dudes who would probably be looking at  like why is she here.  In reality, I would be looking at myself asking 'why are you here?  You have no clue what you are doing'

I continued to take bootcamp classes where the free weights were bright colors and I had an instructor tell me what to do.  I loved it all so much that it grew into me teaching not only conditioning classes, but also pole classes.

I was teaching 4-6 times a week and really loving every moment of it. As an instructor you don't realize how much you influence people's lives.  I had many students come to me and tell me how grateful they were for the words I said in class or pushing them to their limit, only for them to exceed what they thought they could do.  This in turn made me think about my limits.  How could I push Tiffany above and beyond what she thought she could do

Luckily, I ran into a friend/coworker at the pole studio and I noticed her dramatic weight loss and muscle gain. I asked her immediately ' What are you doing? What is your secret?' You look amazing.

She told me she was competing. I naturally thought she meant pole. Instructors at the studio are always competing. She told me about a bikini competition.  We had a pretty lengthy discussion about the process and what she was doing and when it was, I was so intrigued.  I went on to teach class and she said if I was interested to let her know.  Weeks had gone by and I thought maybe this was the challenge I was looking for? Maybe I can set this goal to one day hit the stage, and work really hard and 'leave it all on the floor' as we would say in cheerleading.

My first bootcamp with Malenna had transpired shortly after.  And after the first class, I knew she would be a great coach.  I started with her transformation programs to get me into the groove adn told her I was interested in competing in the future, but not right now. I had just gotten engaged and now it was about being fit for the wedding, but after the wedding I was super serious about this bikini competition thing.



A week after my wedding, I emailed Malenna and told her 2015 was the year I was going to do this. Set a goal, work hard, and 'leave it on the floor'. I knew a few things about this journey from the start.
1. Getting my husband on board was going to be a challenge .  2. I would have to tackle that weight room I had been ignoring since high school. 3. It would be both challenging mentally and physcially 4. with God all things are possible.

This Journey
I can say that after 6 weeks of nagging my husband to compete, he finally said 'yes'  After a few more weeks, he finally asked the details of what it all entails, showing his undivided attention and full support of my competition.  I am happy to say I now help out guys in the weight room. HA!  I feel very comfortable asking to use a machine or jump in on sets.  I am well respected in any gym I set foot in, and even get called a 'beast' with some of the crazy things my coach has me doing.  The weight training has actually empowered me not only as a woman, but as a human.  I will never set limits on my capabilities. I also know life hands us these huge challenges and honestly if I can give up cheese and bread, life's challenges are a piece of cake...had to give that up too!

I initially set this goal to challenge myself, which I did. What I didn't expect were the extra things that came along with this journey 1. A greater understanding of self worth and self love. 2. The woman's body is incredible and to love it during every stage and change (6 pack rolls, 6 pack abs, pre/post baby body) 3. if you give it your all, you will always win 4. the new friendships of 3 amazing ladies who have shared this journey with me 5. I am and will always be an athlete. 6. My love and admiration for my coach. She is one incredible woman. 7. An even stronger belief that with God all things are possible.

I set a goal...I worked hard...and on April 11th, I'll leave it on the floor....

Photo Credit SXF Photography

Follow Jasmine as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini Debut

All in the family

Every since I was a little girl, I was athletic and an entertainer.   Almost every sport you can think of I've done it. Swimming, tae kwon do, basketball, softball, cheer leading, gymnastics, dance.. you name it. I never purposely tried to stay in shape and I also never watched what I ate.  It's just how my body developed over the years.

When I was in high school and in college, I used to be very self conscious of my build. I was skinny with a very large upper body. My arms were always so muscular and my back always very broad. On the bottom, I was the total opposite. Chicken legs with zero curves. I used to joke around and say I was built like a 12 year old boy. Being so aware of my  disproportionate attributes I used to limit myself when it came to my clothing. Tube tops were always out of the question, along with quarter sleeve shirts that made my biceps bulge out of my shirt. My friends didn't help either, constantly reminding me how "brolic" I looked on a daily basis. I used to just say I was born like this because there was really no explanation as to why my upper body had developed in this way.






Throughout this experience, the hardest obstacle I had to face was changing my lifestyle. At heart I am a very big party girl. By the end of high school and all throughout college I had always enjoyed going to parties, drinking heavily and going out with my friends to clubs, restaurants, etc. This was something I thought no one was gonna take away from me. "I can't drink? That's not happening," were my exact thoughts the moment I considered competing. Today, I can assure you, that was the easiest part.

I was first introduced to the world of fitness by my sister. Having gained a lot of weight after the birth of my niece, my sister set forth on a whole new healthy lifestyle. A lifestyle that I used to make fun of every chance I got. She tried everything from diets, trainers, and workout plans. Nothing worked to its full potential. That is until she became a part of the Elite Heat. One day, right before my last semester of college I woke up and looked in the mirror, most likely after a night of partying. I looked at my side profile and was disgusted to see my belly going out further than my butt. Granted, I am very tiny so no, I didn't look I weighed 500 pounds but I most definitely didn't look good. I texted my sister right away and told her I needed to get back into shape. So intrigued by this lifestyle she was not hesitant to help. For about 3 months, November to January, I was eating very well, cut down on my partying and was working out on a daily basis. I was so happy with my results. Not a pound was lost but I became a leaner, stronger me.

After the holidays, I went back to school for my last semester at the end of January. Unfortunately due to my busy schedule I wasn't able to keep up with my healthy lifestyle anymore. It really is like a second job. But at least with this you get to look hot in the process. ;) My progress had not completely become undone but I was not where I wanted to be.

Through this time my sisters best friend and WBFF Diva Bikini Pro Laura Gutierrez was preparing for her first show. Prior to going  pro at her second competition, I became so infatuated with her transformation.  I just knew I had to get involved with this somehow. I had been informed about an informational session fitness coach Malenna Saunders was having for girls in Long Island and I made it a point to be there. I needed to see who was the woman responsible for these incredible changes behind Laura and my sister. Needless to say, the moment I met Malenna and the women on the team, I was sold.

Deciding to compete, my family supported me a great deal, but there were two people in particular.  My father, who competed in his earlier days and was ecstatic for me to continue his legacy.  Most importantly though, my sister. Without her November 8th, 2014 would just be another day. Her motivation and support is what has gotten me through what I can easily call, one of the hardest journeys of my life. Basically my second coach, she kept me in check every step of the way and never let me slip up. And when I did, she was always right there to kick me in the butt to pick me back up again. She's truly inspired me to be a better, healthier and stronger woman and for that I am eternally grateful. I just hope that one day I'm standing next to her on that competition stage. But shhh, don't tell her I said that.




3 months ago if you asked me why I wanted to compete my response would be along the lines of, "I don't know, I think I'd be good at it, plus, I want to look hot."Today, I've learned that this experience is so much more than just that. For me, it's about doing something no one thought I could. Being able to leave old habits that have always been a part of me, and most importantly finishing a journey knowing that I could have easily given up at any moment. Today, not only am I hotter than before, but I am stronger, leaner, healthier and better. From here the only place to go is up. The Elite Heat is taking over ;)

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. 

And the Trophy Goes To......

How'd they do?

Daphne

Laura

A few days ago you were introduced to Daphne and Laura, our newest fitness competitors in prep.  Each of them shared their personal journey, the reasons they wanted to compete and the struggle of competition prep. Their debut occurred in Wallingford, Connecticut, just this past weekend.  Bikini, Fit Model, Muscle Model, Figure and Male Fit Model athletes from all over graced the stage in over 4-6 hours of comparisons, posing, quarter turns and pose downs.

We hopped in our SUV rental early Friday morning and made the 2 hour drive to an unknown and exciting fate. Friday, after arriving at the hotel, we could rest, get situated, hopefully nap, but energies were flying all afternoon. We made a trip to the local Walgreens for incidentals and once we made it back to the hotel, we needed to get ready for the athletes meeting.  At this meeting, the ladies were to be informed of the agenda for the following day so their attendance was mandatory. After the meeting, we grabbed dinner just to get together one last time before the big and long day.

Dinner !

Daphne and Laura ready for the athlete's meeting!

Saturday morning began at 5am with hair and makeup, determinations on meals, tanning, and packing for backstage. By 9am, we had to be at the venue and ready to hit the stage. Showtime began promptly at 10am. When the ladies for bikini short filed onto the stage, we thought the line would never end. 44 ladies later, all the athletes were on the stage and ready for comparisons. The competition was long, and tough. 

Backstage before prelims

All the athletes in the bikini short division

Prelims occurred in the morning. We had a small break, and then went back to the theater for finals. This show had all the lights and glamour Fitness Atlantic delivers every year for their audience.  I had the distinct honor and pleasure of being a presenter during the awards ceremony and looked on at the table of trophies wondering if two of these were going to our girls.

 How did they do? See for yourself :) Our next show is May 17th...Stay tuned.

Daphne Espinal 2nd place- Bikini Masters

Laura Gutierrez- 5th place - Bikini Short