I always wanted to be fit but I struggled with how to achieve my goals. I didn’t grow up as an athletic child, teenager, or young adult, but I knew I wanted to be an athlete. I remember reading my first issue of Oxygen Magazine and, like so many of the women in Oxygen, I instantly felt reassured that maybe I too could make a transformation to a healthier lifestyle. Soon after following Oxygen’s meal plans, tips, and workouts, I started to see a difference in my physique. However, the benefits of eating clean and working out came to an end when I let the stress of university consume me. I found emotional comfort in overindulging in food and before I knew it I gained almost 40lbs in less than 6 months. Gaining weight is easy when you’re eating cheddar cheese and chips at 2:00AM; not to mention being raised in an Italian home where all meals are to die for! I still remember the day I tried to put on a pair of my ‘Fat Jeans’ and they wouldn’t go past my hips. This was my defining moment. Portion control and moderation was an issue for me but at the time I just thought that I liked to eat more than others.
Shortly after feeling that I was at my lowest point, I started reading about The Eat-Clean Diet. Tosca Reno’s book taught me the essentials of clean eating and the importance of turning this into a lifestyle. At that time, my boyfriend John (now fiancé) helped me incorporate the principles of clean eating in addition to going for daily jogs and learning how to lift weights. There were many days when I was frustrated with the number on the scale and the one piece that got me through was John telling me “Don’t focus on the number on the scale. Do this because you want to be healthy. Everything else will come.” And that is exactly what I did. Over the year I was able to lose the weight and in exchange I gained some confidence and improved health. Finally I was starting to feel closer to being myself again.
In an effort to find another physical challenge, I discovered CrossFit. After an intensive year of training I noticed my body fat % decreased and my strength increased. All of the sudden a thought I had for 8 years of competing in a fitness modelling competition started to seem like a realistic goal. I began researching the industry and I studied the federations, competitions, categories, and the athletes. I even went to see my first fitness competition, which was WBFF BC 2010 to learn more and this is when I saw now WBFF Pro Fitness Model Marilyse Mayerhofer earn her Pro card.
I was completely inspired by the WBFF and my search for coach in the fitness industry continued and this is when I found the missing piece to my puzzle, my coach, WBFF PRO Fatima Leite Kusch. Together we made my progress possible and in September 2011 I competed for the first time and won first place. After getting my feet wet I prepared for my dream, competing with the WBFF. I competed with the WBFF on June 23rd for the first time and I won my Pro card as a Fitness Model. Becoming a Pro with the WBFF and being published in Oxygen Magazine several times since 2012 were huge dreams of mine that became realities and proved to me that dreams really do come true when you’re passionate. I am truly grateful for everything that has come my way and for the unconditional support from my coach, the amazing women from my team, Team Blessed Bodies, and everyone who has supported my journey since the beginning.
Follow me as I prepare for something I’ve never done before, my first Pro show with THE WBFF!
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” ~ Napoleon Hill
Inspire and Be Inspired
Shortly after feeling that I was at my lowest point, I started reading about The Eat-Clean Diet. Tosca Reno’s book taught me the essentials of clean eating and the importance of turning this into a lifestyle. At that time, my boyfriend John (now fiancé) helped me incorporate the principles of clean eating in addition to going for daily jogs and learning how to lift weights. There were many days when I was frustrated with the number on the scale and the one piece that got me through was John telling me “Don’t focus on the number on the scale. Do this because you want to be healthy. Everything else will come.” And that is exactly what I did. Over the year I was able to lose the weight and in exchange I gained some confidence and improved health. Finally I was starting to feel closer to being myself again.
In an effort to find another physical challenge, I discovered CrossFit. After an intensive year of training I noticed my body fat % decreased and my strength increased. All of the sudden a thought I had for 8 years of competing in a fitness modelling competition started to seem like a realistic goal. I began researching the industry and I studied the federations, competitions, categories, and the athletes. I even went to see my first fitness competition, which was WBFF BC 2010 to learn more and this is when I saw now WBFF Pro Fitness Model Marilyse Mayerhofer earn her Pro card.
I was completely inspired by the WBFF and my search for coach in the fitness industry continued and this is when I found the missing piece to my puzzle, my coach, WBFF PRO Fatima Leite Kusch. Together we made my progress possible and in September 2011 I competed for the first time and won first place. After getting my feet wet I prepared for my dream, competing with the WBFF. I competed with the WBFF on June 23rd for the first time and I won my Pro card as a Fitness Model. Becoming a Pro with the WBFF and being published in Oxygen Magazine several times since 2012 were huge dreams of mine that became realities and proved to me that dreams really do come true when you’re passionate. I am truly grateful for everything that has come my way and for the unconditional support from my coach, the amazing women from my team, Team Blessed Bodies, and everyone who has supported my journey since the beginning.
Follow me as I prepare for something I’ve never done before, my first Pro show with THE WBFF!
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” ~ Napoleon Hill
Inspire and Be Inspired
Theresa Jenn Lopetrone
Facebook: Theresa Jenn Lopetrone
Instagram @theresa_jenn
![Vegetarian Chili
YIELD: 12 x 1-cup servings PREPARATION TIME: 90 minutes COOKING TIME: 45 minutes
Details
Who doesn’t have a chili recipe somewhere in their cooking repertoire? The hearty dish warms you up from the inside, keeps you lean and will make plenty for leftovers. Vegetarian chilies are getting more and more popular, even with meat lovers, so try this veggie version from Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook tonight.
Ingredients
• 2 Tbsp / 30 ml chili powder • 1 Tbsp / 15 ml garlic powder • 1 Tbsp / 15 ml ground cumin • 1 tsp / 5 ml ground sage • 1 eggplant, peeled, cubed and salted (see salting method below) • 2 firm green zucchini, cubed and salted as with eggplant • ½ cup / 120 ml best-quality extra virgin olive oil, divided • 2 large onions, peeled and coarsely chopped • 1 each red, green and yellow bell pepper, seeded and deveined, coarsely chopped • 4 stalks celery, chopped, leaves included • 1 cup / 240 ml flat beer • Handful fresh basil, chopped • Handful fresh oregano, chopped • 2 x 6 oz / 175 ml cans tomato paste • 2 cups / 480 ml peeled and coarsely chopped Roma tomatoes • 1 tsp / 5 ml sea salt • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • Juice of 2 fresh lemons • ¼ cup / 60 ml unsulfured blackstrap molasses • 4 cups / 950 ml kidney beans (any broad bean will do) • 2 cups / 480 ml fresh or frozen corn kernels
Method for Salting Eggplant
Do not skip this step! Eggplant has a bitter component in its flesh that can be unpleasant. Peel and cube the eggplant. Place in a good-sized preparation bowl and toss with about 2 tsp / 10 ml of fine sea salt. Place in a bowl and let stand, covered, for about an hour. The bitter juice will collect in the bottom of the bowl.
Transfer the eggplant to a colander and rinse well. Dump the rinsed eggplant onto a clean kitchen towel and pat dry. The eggplant is now ready to use.
Method for Toasting Spices
In a small dry skillet, add chili, cumin, garlic and sage. Toast over medium heat until spices become fragrant and just begin to smoke, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat. Set aside.
Preparation
Rinse cubed eggplant and zucchini and drain well. Place on a kitchen towel and pat dry.
Heat half of the olive oil in large frying pan or skillet. Sauté vegetables in batches, adding more olive oil as needed. Place vegetables in Dutch oven or stockpot as each batch is cooked.
When all vegetables are cooked, add beer, toasted seasonings, fresh herbs, tomato paste and tomatoes to pot. Stir.
Stir in sea salt, pepper, lemon juice and molasses.
Add beans and corn and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Skim any foam off the top of the chili.
Tosca’s Tip
Serve over brown rice or with Super Simple Corn Muffins (see recipe on page 280 of Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook) on the side. Garnish with fresh chopped green onion.
Nutritional Value per 1-cup serving: Calories: 256 Calories from Fat: 91 Total Fat: 10 g Saturated Fat: 0 g Total Carbs: 36 g Fiber: 9 g Protein: 7 g Sodium: 577 mg Cholesterol: 0 mg
[Source: The Eat-Clean Diet]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcrc03MG0D1r43dlbo1_400.jpg)
