Elite Heat Spotlight : Cary

I can truly say that I had never considered myself as an athlete. I was never part of any sports teams in school or out of school. However I did have a love for working out. At 16 years old I signed up for the gym and would go straight after school. I was a cardio bunny and you could not get me off a treadmill. I did endless amount of reps with light weights and that was about it. Then after college I had a new career and my endless cardio sessions had gone to the wayside as well as my eating habits.

I remember clearly one day I was unhappy with my reflection in the mirror and the numbers reflected on the scale. I was living an unhealthy lifestyle. That is when I had a turning point and decided to lace up my sneakers and take back my passion for running but this time outdoors. With the encouragement of my husband, I signed up for a few races. I remember the great adrenaline rush, the butterflies in my stomach, and the people at the races. The races were all fun and exhilarating. Not too long after my first half marathon I had injured my knee. I was unable to do what I had loved to do so much and I had to find new ways to work out. I started a Pilates routine, as well as weight lifting (this time heavier). All of a sudden I had started to see my body transform and the weight melt off without any cardio, but also better eating habits.

I am trying to learn so much more about health, nutrition and my own body. My informal education had started by following Casey Ho from Pop Pilates (she is a great inspiration to me) and reading Oxygen magazine as well as other health and fitness related articles.

I want to be a positive role model for my family, loved ones and the community. This new fitness venture will encourage me to become stronger physically and mentally through disciplined dieting and training. I am truly happy that I have met a group of wonderful ladies that are supportive and encouraging as we each achieve our own fitness goals and enjoy the journey.

Elite Heat Spotlight : Marina

Hi! My name is Marina Rymar and I'm on my journey to become a fitness competitor. I have never been into sports (I played piano through the school years instead) but I climbed all the fences and trees in the neighborhood and enjoyed beating all the boys in bike rides and soccer games...

After moving to the USA from Russia I found myself a little bit chubbier than I would like to see myself in the mirror. My weight loss process started with serious research about foods and diets. I succeeded. More than that - nutrition became my passion and profession. I'm on my senior year of a clinical nutrition program at a university and I love it.

To be slim was not enough for me so I went for more - gym, weights, clean eating, supplements opened up a new page of my life. Kickboxing is also a big part of my life especially since i was asked to teach classes at the place i was working out myself. It is just amazing to feel the strength of your body and be able to push through the pain and see all those changes in your own body! So one day I decided to see what competitions are about and went to a workshop and ended up finding amazing ladies with the same passions. They do not know yet how much i have learned from them ;)

I decided to do the things I love now instead of waiting for that perfect time and place which will never happen. And I noticed that other stuff we all "don't like but have to do" got better and I look at it from a different perspective. 

I'm on my journey to become a competitor. And I want to thank Elite Heat Team Ladies for giving that missing piece of the whole puzzle. Now I'm doing what I love and it's an amazing feeling. I will shine for you on that stage on April 13!

Elite Heat Spotlight : Lindsey

Growing up I was always active. I played soccer through high school and was on the competition cheer leading squad. The second that I stepped into college all of that stopped. I wasn't exactly unhealthy in the years between then and now but after an extremely rough 2012, I decided that there needed to be some changes in my life. I no longer looked in the mirror and saw myself. My body was foreign and my attitude and outlook on life had shifted to a very negative place. I wasn't happy.

Ashley McCormack called me at work one day back in November and said that the Elite Heat was open to new members. I jumped at the chance, after seeing how much she had transformed over the last year on the team. I needed to be a part of something that would hold me accountable for my bad habits. Almost five months in and I have never been happier with my body. I make smarter choices in all areas of my life and can't wait to see what else I'm capable of. I would not have been able to do any of this on my own!

Elite Heat Spotlight : Jessica

I never really knew the meaning of a healthy lifestyle. Carry my groceries home? A walk to the nearby deli to get a box of cereal? The morning runs to catch the bus? Or the non-stoppable failed diets where I would starve all day? As I gained extra pounds my confidence went down the hill. I didn’t feel comfortable because I was not the person I wanted to be. Excuses of why I was not making the right decisions for my body and diet were the anthem of my daily life.  I knew I could change that, but I sure needed help to do so. I think I must have hit the jackpot when my so dear best friend introduced me to Phoenyx! The great knowledge I have acquired about the right food choices and exercises, the discipline and the positive influence from the team have helped me tremendously. I still have a long way to go but that’s because I am not planning on stopping on this tough but yet fun and rewarding way to a healthier and confident me! Thanks so much Phoenyx!!

Elite Heat Spotlight : Kim

I am a work in progress in all areas of my life; fitness is at the top of the list though. I have never been an athlete. I only played sports in gym class and I’ve worked out sporadically throughout the years, so joining Elite Heat is a challenge for me. My ultimate goal is to have flat washboard abs, a tight and toned body and a very healthy diet.  Transitioning to working out consistently and watching calories have been a challenge, but I feel the changes gradually coming in. The visual change in my body has been slow, but I keep telling myself to be patient and keep working on it. I can’t wait for summer to come so I can wear a bikini without thinking twice.

Elite Heat Spotlight : Alex

Have you ever had that feeling that your body just doesn’t compare to the other girls around you because it just isn’t the right shape or size and it doesn’t fit in the stereotypical “beautiful” body type that society accepts? Well twelve years ago, when I was fourteen, those same thoughts consumed my mind, body, & soul and lead me into an incredibly difficult battle that I still fight to this very day.

At fourteen, I had the typical “pudgy” awkward body type that most girls have at that age, but to me it was unacceptable and I needed to change my body and the way I thought people viewed me in the snap of a finger. I cut my food intake to half of what I normally ate and started taking my workouts to a whole new level, as I started seeing results my obsession grew and had become this lurking shadow that followed me everywhere. I started losing weight fast and people began to take notice, sadly I felt amazing. I dropped 30 pounds in 4 months and my mother became extremely concerned and took me to the clinic for a physical where I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and body dimorphic disorder. This was only the beginning of an incredibly long twelve year journey of battling my body demons, until now.

Four months ago, I was approached about joining a fitness group called “Elite Heat” and I must say I was skeptical at first, but after listening to the older girls on the team and talking with Malenna I couldn’t wait to sign my name on the dotted line. As soon as we had committed to the team; we got started with group workouts, solo workouts and eating plans that were made specifically for our body types & goals, and most importantly we (as a team) began bonding together. I could not be happier about my decision to join the “Elite Heat” team and I can honestly say that after twelve years of battling my “body” demons, I am so proud of myself and how far I have come mentally, physically, and spiritually. The lifestyle change that happens throughout this process is totally worth the pain, frustration, sweat & tears because at the end I could not be a healthier and happier person with an incredible appreciation for my “beautiful” body type.