Elite Heat Spotlight : Jadi

I can't even begin to tell y'all how thrilled I am to start this journey. 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. I found out about the ELITE HEAT through Esther Lopez. Esther and I went to college together, and when she first told me about this journey I was excited for her as I could see how passionate she was starting to become about it, but when I actually VISUALLY witnessed the transformation, I wanted in. 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. 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 ;)

Elite Heat Spotlight : Erica

Everyone has done it before - standing there naked, looking in the mirror; part by part picking yourself apart, everything you hate about yourself comes rushing through the forefront of your mind. Suddenly, you feel weak, alone and miserable. That's why I want to continue doing what I do.
 
My name is Erica. I've been a fitness and bikini competitor for about 6 years. I love everything about competing; the drive, the push, the end result. I love it all. About a year and a half ago, I had to take some time off of competing. I went through a lot of issues, personal and health, and it killed my spirit. Depression set in, as did the weight and unhealthy eating habits. After it was all said and done, I planted my feet firmly on ground and thanked God that I made it through...even though I made it with 50 extra pounds, I made it.
So there I found myself ready to comeback with with a new purpose. One of my favorite parts of competing have always been my ability to mentor. I love helping woman. So many woman are faced with issues that many don't understand. The process of giving everything you have and standing on a stage for someone to tell you why you are or are not good enough, can be so emotional. Much like living day to day feeling like you aren't thin enough, healthy enough, smart enough or pretty enough. But that's what I love, helping women see that no matter what they want, they CAN be it or they can have it.
 
Over the years, I have struggled with myself. I've always felt like I wasn't enough, and competing only amplified it. I was never small enough, my butt was too big, breasts were too little, too black for some, to white for others...I was never enough. Until I learned that it was okay to just BE ME; and at the end of the day being the best me that I could at any given moment surpassed anything I ever dreamed of being. And that's why I want to come back to the stage and that's why I joined the Elite Heat. 

I "met" Malenna and she shared so much of the passion that I shared and understood me in ways most people don't. We just clicked, had some of the same goals, and she immediately knew when to push and when to nurture to get me exactly where I need to be. Its going to be a long journey and I have so much work to do, but it seems like exactly what I need at the exact moment I need it. This isn't the first team that I have been on, but I truly believe that this is where I belong. I believe in the core values of Malenna's vision for herself and her team. I believe in order to make a difference in this industry, we have to make a little noise. Not just talk about it, but be about. At the end of the day, I have a desire to build people up, show them when they cannot see on there own and at the same time make the world see that I am a force to be reckoned with. After its all said and done, you will know my name. I'm a fighter and I won't stop until I'm ready to. Apparently, I have some unfinished business and I'm ready to make some noise.

Elite Heat Spotlight : Karen

I’ve never thought of myself as competitive, I know zero about sports. However, I will watch a football game IF the team has cheerleaders and while everyone is focused on the game; I’m excited for the few seconds before a commercial break in hopes of catching a glimpse of the cheerleading team’s routine. I’m not going to lie I’m also in it for the wings. As much as I love chowing down on some pub food I think what I may love more is washing it down with a nice stiff cocktail. Here’s what I don’t love, what it makes me look like.

As a 28 year old woman living in NYC and graduated from the University of Delaware I have had enough nights at bars followed by a visit to a diner to last someone 3 lifetimes. As we welcome the second month to a new year I’m excited for the fitness goals I’ve set to achieve in 2013. I’m looking forward to working hard on gaining a fit body and truly embracing an amazing lifestyle. I am extremely proud to be a new member of Elite Heat and feel inspired being among such incredible women of all walks of life. It has also been extremely reassuring to have the support of such good people.

So here we GOOOOO!!!

Elite Heat Spotlight : Krys

After finally breaking free from a lengthy struggle in an emotionally destructive relationship, I made a pact with myself to stop looking back at all the had-beens, could-have-beens, shouldn't-have-beens, etc., and instead put a new focus on creating a completely new me.

I had always loved working out, and as an ailment to a drop in self-consciousness, both physically and emotionally, I decided to try out some group-fitness classes at Phoenyx using a Groupon deal during the summer. I figured I could use the motivation of working out with a group again, and I could get back on the track to health!

During their September Open House, I was lucky enough to win a 5-week Phoenyx Fitness class package, Kettlebells, which just so happened to be how I met Malenna.

She was lean, she was mean, she was ripped - just as I had always wished I could be! And then I heard her say the word - competition! I took that as my cue to, from that point forward, use every class as an opportunity to bombard her with a myriad of questions about her competitions. That’s when she told me about the Elite Heat.

Competing on stage has always been what I call one of my “little girl dreams”, however, it never occurred to me that there were actually people doing it right here, in my city, in my fitness class! I didn’t have to think twice before jumping on board with an enthusiastic “YES!”, and it’s been all upwards progress since then.

I thought I knew so much about working out and clean eating, but after seeing how these girls REALLY get it, I’ve been motivated to learn more and more. I’ve been working out in new ways and learning new things every day. And just having that support around you 24/7, who wouldn’t be motivated!

Now it’s time to break out of that old shell of mine, and create something new. It’s time to give haters a reason to hate, lovers a reason to love, and has-beens a reason to regret ever letting me slip away.

Because when you’re surrounded by a bunch of girls who are all striving to look their best, and when you’re being constantly pestered every week for a progress photo that you don’t necessarily want to take, or for a weight update that you don’t necessarily want to give, you don’t just WANT to work your hardest... you HAVE to!!

Elite Heat Spotlight: Mary

The opportunity to join the Elite Heat could not have come at a more perfect time.  You see, as a fitness professional, I spend my time helping others achieve their fitness goals, but yet, my own fitness was starting to take a back seat.  I was really fitting exercise in where I could, not making it a priority, like I had in the past.  Since joining the team, I have renewed my fitness goals with the ultimate goal of getting on the competition stage.  I wil always be a work in progress because there is always room to improve, but so far I have seen visible improvements to my physique, and I am experimenting more in the kitchen.  I couldn't be happier to be a part of the Elite Heat, to have met the ladies that make up this team and grateful to our coach Malenna for putting this group together.  I am looking forward to all the possibilities that this journey may bring.  

Elite Heat Spotlight: Sarah

For as long ad I can remember, I have always been athletic. I started playing soccer at the age of four, then ran track throughout high school and eventually ran cross country in college.

After graduating from college, I decided to go back to school and become a personal trainer. I have been a trainer for almost five years, but just decided to train for my first fitness competition this past year. I started training an dieting hard about about five months ago, and I knew I needed some outside motivation when I met a few of the girls on the Elite Heat. I decided to join, and am looking forward to preparing for my first fitness competition with this team.

Everyone on the team has different goals in mind, but it feels great to be a part such a strong group of fit girls! I am looking forward to accomplishing our fitness goals in 2013!

"A transformed body is a combination of blood, sweat, and tears. These expelled liquids reveal a victory in the crucible to work ethic, dedication, and sacrifice." -Greg Plitt

The Elite Heat 2012 Highlight Reel