Follow Alice as she makes her WBFF Diva Bikini DEBUT!

Looking back at my fitness journey, it is amazing how I have evolved and grown! Not only physically, but mentally and spiritually.  I put on some mass, and sculpted my body with muscle.  At the same time, I have challenged myself mentally, in the discipline of pushing myself to train, to not make excuses, to push beyond the fatigue, and the pain.  And, more importantly, I have found peave and joy in a sport and to live this wonderful lifestyle with the love and support of my team, the Elite Heat- I am truly grateful.

Growing up, I was not very fitness-minded.  I was naturally thin and never had problems with weight gain. Therefore, I never paid much attention to proper nutrition or food. Then in my late teens and twenties, I modeled professionally with FORD and Wilhelmina in NYC, so I would rely on doing cardio to make sure I maintained my slender figure.  Doing cardio was the only exercise I knew and did not feel intimidated by it.  It was self explanatory, and I equated me sweating to having an 'effective' workout.

Fast forward to fall of last year, I came to the realization that despite my efforts at working out at Soul Cycle, 3-4 times a week, and using Beachbody home workout dvds (CLX and 21 Day Fix)I was at an unfortunate plateau.  I was watching my food portions, making my own meals, ate 'clean', no alcohol, and exercised 6 days a week.  With all my time, effort, and money, I thought I should be seeing more results.  However, I was not seeing physical changes for over 3 months.  I was at a dead end and unsure of how to break through.

That was when I realized that I needed professional help.  While general exercise dvd's were convenient, I wanted a professional who could look at my body, my health history, and tell me what I can do to reach my fitness goals. I realized that generalized plans were no longer effective for me.

So, as any Generation Y would do, I turned to my trusty Google for my research. I came across a Wall Street Journal article by a reporter who embarked on a fitness competitor journey with the help of personal trainer, Malenna Saunders. I was intrigued! So, I reached out to Malenna and we had a conference call.  I was impressed with how Malenna paid attention to what I was saying, and really listened to my goals. She had a genuine interest in helping me. I clicked with her authenticity so I knew I had to train with her.

On Sept 11, 2014, I began my fitness journey as Malenna's private client.  Our goal was to be focused on strength training and stop the cardio for the time being. Malenna took me to the gym and showed me hot to workout with proper form. My first time with her at the gym, I was very intimidated, as most women were.  I felt awkward and shy there.  The gym to me was always a place where muscular men worked out and I never felt I fit in.  Thanks to Malenna, I overcame my fear and now I am a proud gym rat and the gym is a happy place!



After 30 days, I was BLOWN AWAY by the major changes in my physique, even though I weighted exactly the same on the scale! I used to be afraid of lifting. I thought I would turn into the Hulk if I lifted weights, or that weights made women bulky..I was SO WRONG!  Then, 2 months later, I told Malenna I wanted to compete! I never thought I would be competing at 31 and with a full time job as an attorney.  But the more I got involved in strength training, the more RESPECT I had for this amazing sport and the dedication it took to reach a competitive stage. I wanted a goal for myself and I wanted to crush it!

I also learned to appreciate small progress, gained patience and the importance of working EVERY BODY PART.  Our bodies are a total pacakge and we need to train every part to be balanced. I loved looking at this progress photo of my side profile where my back looks curved but I was standing the exact same way. Just shows how working all the parts of your body can sculpt your shape.






I am 5 days away from stepping on the WBFF stage with Fitness Atlantic and I am a mix of emotions; excited, nervous, happy and confident!  I am happy knowing that I have given my 100% in this journey.  I am confident in knowing my coach Malenna, Sheri, Daphne and my Elite Heat sisters are the best in the industry and have given me the tools to present my BEST self!  I could not have done it without my Elite Heat family, and my April Inferno teammates.  I LOVE YOU GIRLS!  To be surrounded by a family of genuine, like minded and positive athletes is truly a blessing!

Now, I am ready to represent The ELITE HEAT, and BRING IT!!!

Follow Clare as she makes her Fitness America Bikini debut!

Fearless...

"In all my 48 years, I have never owned a bikini. Ever until now"

Something happened to me when I hit my 40's - I woke up one day and was tired of settling for what was staring back at me in the mirror.  Like most women, I struggle daily with body image and tend to see only my flaws.   Given that, the decision to train for a fitness competition is some what difficult for me to explain, even to myself. I've always enjoyed sports in some form as a child. I began running for fitness in college, and have continued with that throughout the years, finishing a couple of marathons and a number of shorter races. But always, in the back of my mind, I wanted a certain look. Why didn't I look like I worked as hard as I felt like I was?

Pushing myself through endless cardio classes didn't seem to be getting me where I wanted to be, but I realized now the issue was in my head. I was afraid to acknowledge that I wanted to look cut, to look athletic.  It seemed shallow to me - if I was healthy, why should I be unhappy with how I looked? Especially when I had a job I loved as well, as a network producer. It seemed unseemly to be complaining about something like my abs.

As an adult, I moved on to sports where looks didn't matter. I learned to play ice hokey at 40 and play on 3 teams.  Having been afraid of team sports, fearing I would be picked last, be the weakest, etc, it's been a joy to experience what being on a team means.  I also took up triathalons four years ago despite a paralyzing fear of swimming.  For the most part, I have been able to work past my fears. All of them except the fear of how I look, and being openly judged about it.  But last year, a number of things happened that changed my outlook.

• surgery on a torn hamstring that would sideline me from most cardio activity for months
• turning 48 which meant 50 was just around the corner

A friend of mine, Kelly Kalley, did her first bikini fitness competition with WBFF in Montreal.  A fashion designer with a great sense of style, Kelly seemed fearless. I remember saying to her that I couldn't imagine putting myself out there to be judged in that way.  But her journey intrigued me more and more as it went on, and I resolved to get past my surgery and refocus my training.  If she could stay so impressively fit without a lot of  cardio, I wanted to see if I could do it as well.  But the training is only half the battle. As they say, you cannot train a bad diet, and I needed real help. That's when an article in the Wall Street Journal, by a woman who reminded me of, well me, caught my eye. Alyssa Abkowitz-Cendrowski wrote a great story about her coach Malenna Saunders, and a team named the Elite Heat describing her journey to the competititve stage. It was clear from Alyssa's story that diet was the missing link in my regime, but I needed a road map, and I didn't want to do it alone. 

When I met with Malenna and the team members I realized I didn't have to. With Malenna's help, and starting with the Advocare 24 Day Challenge, I have been able to revamp how I eat, and while it hasn't been easy. it truly was the missing link in the chain. 

The final fear to face will be standing on that stage. But I know I can face it with the help of my great coach and wonderfully supportive teammates.  Losing those fears and hangups is the best weight loss I can ever imagine.