• 3rd May
    2012
  • 03
Comments
  • 10th April
    2012
  • 10
Awww! Thank you so much Tessa!! I really appreciate your support! I hope you enjoy the issue. There are some great recipes on pages 70 and 71. I will tackle those soon, let me know if you make anything from the issue. Cheers! tessafitforlife: I was so excited when I saw this on the shelf at my local grocery store! Congrats TheFame! You look amazing! Can’t wait to read this issue cover to cover. :)

Awww! Thank you so much Tessa!! I really appreciate your support! I hope you enjoy the issue. There are some great recipes on pages 70 and 71. I will tackle those soon, let me know if you make anything from the issue. Cheers!

tessafitforlife:

I was so excited when I saw this on the shelf at my local grocery store! Congrats TheFame! You look amazing! Can’t wait to read this issue cover to cover. :)

Comments
  • 8th April
    2012
  • 08
BE HONEST: What are 3 items you can not keep in your home? Mine are the following: chocolate cashews organic dried mango All 3 items together are my favourite to enjoy but I also know myself well enough to know that these items are too tempting to keep in my home. When I want them, I will go to the bulk section (usually at Whole Foods) and ONLY purchase the amount I will eat in one sitting. On my FitnessPrint competition prep plan I can eat dried mango and cashews which is very convenient for me. But you will see, these 3 items are something that I will buy in bulk for my post WBFF show. 

BE HONEST: What are 3 items you can not keep in your home?

Mine are the following:

  1. chocolate
  2. cashews
  3. organic dried mango

All 3 items together are my favourite to enjoy but I also know myself well enough to know that these items are too tempting to keep in my home. When I want them, I will go to the bulk section (usually at Whole Foods) and ONLY purchase the amount I will eat in one sitting.

On my FitnessPrint competition prep plan I can eat dried mango and cashews which is very convenient for me. But you will see, these 3 items are something that I will buy in bulk for my post WBFF show. 

Comments
  • 3rd April
    2012
  • 03

Hi everyone!

Today I have some very exciting news to share!! Recently, I have mentioned that many opportunities have come my way. Some of these I have been able to share with you while others I have promised to tell in due time. Well, today I want to share one of those opportunities with you…

I have been asked to be a GUEST BLOGGER for the one and only, THE EAT-CLEAN DIET queen, Tosca Reno!!!! My initial thought when I was approached to do this was ‘No way? This can’t be real. Me, write a blog post for one of my fitness and health inspirations?!’

From the beginning of my Tumblr life-time, I have been talking to you about Tosca and The Eat-Clean Diet. For the past two months, I put out a challenge to you and organized the ‘NO EXCUSES CHALLENGE’ and many of you have made the transition to a clean-eating lifestyle and have reaped the benefits. Way to go!

»> If you would like to read MY GUEST BLOG on Tosca Reno’s blog site click here.

MY STORY

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. Gaining weight is easy when you’re eating cheddar cheese and nacho 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 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 THE EAT-CLEAN DIET. I began to include a variety of foods in my diet, including tofu, quinoa, and beets. Tosca’s first 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. Even on the days I didn’t want to workout or didn’t understand what benefits I would get from eating small 5-6 meals a day, he encouraged me to continue. 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. Day after day, he was and is still my rock. None of this would have been possible without his belief, support, and encouragement. 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 with an amazing group of people, 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 modeling competition started to seem like a realistic goal. I began researching the industry. I studied the federations, the competitions, the categories, and the athletes. I even went to see my first fitness competition (WBFF) to learn more. During this time, Tosca Reno was in town for her ‘Your Best Body Now’ book signing. Without a question I had to go and meet my inspiration in person and share what I had learned from her. She took time for Q&A and I asked her about her experience with competing. After sharing her experience she asked me if I was thinking about competing, I answered ‘Yes’. This was the first time I had said this in public and it was beginning to feel like a real possibility. I mean, if I told Tosca Reno this then I would have to continue on with my word. When Tosca was signing my book, John and I had a chance to chat with her regarding our clean eating lifestyle. She was supportive and happy, and she even said to me “Look at your quad sweep!” - I was flattered to say the least.

My search for an athlete and 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. For 5 months, I followed my coach’s FitnessPrint plan and training program and went on the faith that she believed in me. Together we made my progress possible. My coach is one of my fitness inspirations and she has taught me so much about myself as an athlete and person. I am truly lucky to have such a positive and strong role model in my life. In September 2011, I competed and won my very first competition. It took me a few days to realize what had happened. My dream continued as I was featured in the February 2012 Future of Fitness in Oxygen magazine! Followed by receiving an early copy of THE EAT-CLEAN DIET Vegetarian cookbook. Now here I am in the ABS Special and sharing My Success Story on Tosca Reno’s blog! Dreams do come true.

“Inspire and Be Inspired”

Comments
  • 30th March
    2012
  • 30
Comments
  • 26th March
    2012
  • 26
Comments
  • 26th March
    2012
  • 26
Rachel's Fit Health: Closing the Gap- My Top 10 Fitness Inspirations

Yup! You’ve got me all choked up Rachel! Wow! Thank you so much! It is SUCH AN HONOR to be listed amongst these amazing, strong, and inspiring women in fitness. THANK YOU! WOW!! xo

rachelsfithealth:

This post is for the beautiful girls who beat themselves up when looking at fashion magazines. Stop trying to take desperate measures to look like them. It’s time to start seeing the world with a new set of eyes.

This is a continuation of my post from a few days ago- “Media or Mind”(scroll to…

Comments
  • 22nd March
    2012
  • 22
Wow, I honestly don’t even know what to say… This message is my reward and it will stay close to my heart. I appreciate your feedback because I always want to be me, I always want to learn from others, and I want people to see that change is possible. Thank you, you have topped off my incredible day! Inspire and Be Inspired. xo

Wow, I honestly don’t even know what to say… This message is my reward and it will stay close to my heart. I appreciate your feedback because I always want to be me, I always want to learn from others, and I want people to see that change is possible. Thank you, you have topped off my incredible day! Inspire and Be Inspired. xo

Comments
  • 20th March
    2012
  • 20
Here’s a little story about my friends. Last year when I told a few of them about my first competition and I sent them the 2011 poster for the show (left), they decided it would be funny to remove the faces of the current athletes and replace them with mine and theirs. At the time, it was very funny. But now it’s even more hilarious because this year I was actually chosen to be on the 2012 poster! The photo is from the day after the competition (not sure why the day after and not the day of but that’s irrelevant). It’s simply an honour to be on the 2012 poster regardless. As my girlfriend says “It was an omen”. PS: “Party Cat” (as you can see on the purple poster) was/is a nickname of mine. My friends claim that I find any reason to celebrate and “party”. This comic explains it all! It’s worth the read, I guarantee you will laugh!

Here’s a little story about my friends. Last year when I told a few of them about my first competition and I sent them the 2011 poster for the show (left), they decided it would be funny to remove the faces of the current athletes and replace them with mine and theirs. At the time, it was very funny. But now it’s even more hilarious because this year I was actually chosen to be on the 2012 poster! The photo is from the day after the competition (not sure why the day after and not the day of but that’s irrelevant). It’s simply an honour to be on the 2012 poster regardless. As my girlfriend says “It was an omen”.

PS: “Party Cat” (as you can see on the purple poster) was/is a nickname of mine. My friends claim that I find any reason to celebrate and “party”. This comic explains it all! It’s worth the read, I guarantee you will laugh!

Comments
  • 19th March
    2012
  • 19
You might remember my post about my up coming shoot with Vasko. Well… how amazing is he?! Today, he took the time to write a post on his blog in response to my blog post about shooting with him!!! I’m completely flattered and honored that he would do such a thing *heart melts* There’s no question that his work is pure quality but more than that he’s an awesome person…not just now… this was obvious from the very beginning, hence my attraction to his work. Here is the post he wrote about me, check it out! http://www.blog.thephoto.ca/articles/thefameofhealthandfitness/ This was the perfect start to my first day ON season! Thank you VASKO!!

You might remember my post about my up coming shoot with Vasko. Well… how amazing is he?! Today, he took the time to write a post on his blog in response to my blog post about shooting with him!!! I’m completely flattered and honored that he would do such a thing *heart melts*

There’s no question that his work is pure quality but more than that he’s an awesome person…not just now… this was obvious from the very beginning, hence my attraction to his work.

Here is the post he wrote about me, check it out!

http://www.blog.thephoto.ca/articles/thefameofhealthandfitness/

This was the perfect start to my first day ON season! Thank you VASKO!!

Comments
  • 18th March
    2012
  • 18

NO MORE LICKING THE SPOON!

This weekend was my last official weekend “OFF season”. We planned a weekend get-a-way but by the amount of food related items that were taken you would have thought we were gone for a week! But that’s the way the cookie crumbles when you’re always making sure you’re prepared. My goal was to relax, not workout, eat clean, enjoy more than one guilt-free meal, have my last few drinks of alcohol, and be present in the moment with great company. I did exactly as I planned.

This weekend we celebrated several events with our good friends like:

  • one year anniversary of our trip to Paris
  • birthday
  • new property purchases
  • my last weekend before my ON season
  • positive relationships
  • 2012 and all exciting events that it holds

This weekend was the perfect wrap up for my off season and I’m ready more than ever to be on season. I know I am in a good head space and this I can officially say because I have been through one full season and I know what thoughts can pass through my mind.

Progress as an athlete and person:

  1. This weekend, I was able to relax and not have a single workout and be okay with this. I did not feel guilty for not working out and my body was appreciative of this break. Knowing when to give yourself a break isn’t always easy.
  2. I was able to casually enjoy my favourite beer, wine, and the champagne from Paris over the weekend. I did not feel guilty for enjoying a few glasses nor did I worry about the scale being higher on Monday or the effects of muscle recovery. I know what my body is capable of and I know what I need to do at this stage of the game. Knowing that the number on the scale on Monday will only last for a few days is progress.
  3. I was able to mindfully enjoy appetizers (5 people split: sea salt oven roasted bread, braised pork ribs), an entree (burger and fries), and dessert (5 people split: chocolate cake with ice cream, and cheese cake). I enjoyed the evening to the fullest. I did not feel guilty after the meal or the next day. Sure, I felt heavier the next day, this is no surprise but I know this will pass. I am not concerned over the scale being a few pounds higher on Monday either. Again, I know what needs to be done, I know what I am capable of doing, and I trust the program my coach has developed for me. THIS is progress and this is just an example of what can get into someone’s head during OFF and ON season. 

Competing isn’t just about following a “diet” or training program. There’s a whole other element of mind games that come into play and really see what you’re made of. If you followed me through my first journey to the stage you will remember. Put it this way, it’s a crash course in getting to know yourself like you’ve never known before. I’ve been through it once and I’m ready to go at it again and learn something new about myself.

Comments
  • 15th March
    2012
  • 15
What happened today? Well as most of you know I have been anticipating Oxygen magazine’s ABS special. Not only because I anticipate and love every issue of Oxygen magazine but this issue is special. It’s special because my story was chosen to be featured. I have been waiting a few months for this issue and in the meantime I started to think “maybe this is just a dream”. But today Oxygen magazine shared this photo of the ABS special on Facebook and my coach saw it before I did and shared it on my wall. When I first saw it, I felt surprise, excitement, and happiness. Soon after these feelings turned into tears. These were tears of happiness, tears of joy, and tears of relief. I know, I’m a geek for getting emotional over moments like this but it feels like I have been waiting 8 years for this moment. Mind you, I have not seen the issue in person yet or read my story and seen the “after” photo they selected so 1% of me is still in disbelief. But what I do know is how seeing this cover made me feel today. I thought about: how I wore high heels for most of my teenage years and 20’s because I wanted to appear taller and slimmer I wore black because it was slimming I wore clothes that concealed my insecure areas I didn’t always wear or dress in my style because “my style” didn’t always match my body how I used to think I was destined to be over-weight my whole life how I used to think I would never enjoy working out how I used to think I would never have the discipline to get where I am today how I used to feel helpless and hopeless sitting in my room 8 years ago and feeling depressed about how I felt in my body HOW THE ONLY THING THAT GAVE ME HOPE WAS OXYGEN MAGAZINE And now, 8 years later, I’m featured in one of the same stories that gave ME the hope to continue and gave ME the faith that I would one day feel like I feel today - PRICELESS. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that today I am 100 days out from my competition with the WBFF. 2012 has a lot in store, not just for me, but for my coach’s team - I can feel it. This is just the beginning. I can not say it enough, but I thank you all for reading my blog, sending me public&private messages, and always taking a chance to become a better you. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! xo

What happened today?

Well as most of you know I have been anticipating Oxygen magazine’s ABS special. Not only because I anticipate and love every issue of Oxygen magazine but this issue is special. It’s special because my story was chosen to be featured. I have been waiting a few months for this issue and in the meantime I started to think “maybe this is just a dream”. But today Oxygen magazine shared this photo of the ABS special on Facebook and my coach saw it before I did and shared it on my wall. When I first saw it, I felt surprise, excitement, and happiness. Soon after these feelings turned into tears. These were tears of happiness, tears of joy, and tears of relief. I know, I’m a geek for getting emotional over moments like this but it feels like I have been waiting 8 years for this moment. Mind you, I have not seen the issue in person yet or read my story and seen the “after” photo they selected so 1% of me is still in disbelief. But what I do know is how seeing this cover made me feel today.

I thought about:

  • how I wore high heels for most of my teenage years and 20’s because I wanted to appear taller and slimmer
  • I wore black because it was slimming
  • I wore clothes that concealed my insecure areas
  • I didn’t always wear or dress in my style because “my style” didn’t always match my body
  • how I used to think I was destined to be over-weight my whole life
  • how I used to think I would never enjoy working out
  • how I used to think I would never have the discipline to get where I am today
  • how I used to feel helpless and hopeless
  • sitting in my room 8 years ago and feeling depressed about how I felt in my body
  • HOW THE ONLY THING THAT GAVE ME HOPE WAS OXYGEN MAGAZINE

And now, 8 years later, I’m featured in one of the same stories that gave ME the hope to continue and gave ME the faith that I would one day feel like I feel today - PRICELESS.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that today I am 100 days out from my competition with the WBFF. 2012 has a lot in store, not just for me, but for my coach’s team - I can feel it. This is just the beginning.

I can not say it enough, but I thank you all for reading my blog, sending me public&private messages, and always taking a chance to become a better you. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! xo

Comments
  • 15th March
    2012
  • 15

As you all know, I have a vision board. I have many goals written, some already accomplished and some not, some you know about and some you will soon find out about. One of the goals I wrote for myself in 2011 was having a photo shoot with VASKO photography. I absolutely adore his work and in my opinion he’s one of the most creative photographers out there. I am very particular with the style of photography I prefer and I plan on sticking to this standard. As someone beginning in this industry, I don’t feel that I need to shoot with just anyone. In fact, I have passed on a few sessions because it wasn’t what I was looking for. It doesn’t mean there was anything wrong with this photographer’s work, it just means it wasn’t my style. There is nothing wrong with being selective with who you decide to shoot with no matter if you’re just beginning or are a PRO.

I’m excited to share with you that this year I will be shooting with one of my TOP FAVOURITE photographers, VASKO!!! Set your goals and chase them down until they are yours! More to come on this later!

Thank you for always being so supportive of everything I have dreamed of doing! xo

Check out this talented photographer for yourself below:

Vasko’s Photography Site

Vasko’s Blog

Vasko’s Facebook Page

Twitter @Vasko_Photo

Comments
  • 7th March
    2012
  • 07
Well I certainly can’t organize a challenge and not be part of it myself, now can I?! Congratulations to those of you who have continued onto your second phase of the 30 day challenge! A congrats also goes to those of you who have joined this month’s challenge for the first time! Reading everyone’s journey was inspiring on it’s own so I am excited to see what progress comes from this month. Keep the honest reflections coming. I know I’m not alone when I say I enjoy reading and responding to them. I’m really happy to see so many fitblrs connecting and reaching out to one another. This is priceless. THANK YOU! This should not come as a surprise but we ALL need to set goals. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or you’re a PRO! We all need to take time to check in with ourselves and see if we’re moving in the right direction. If we are? Awesome! If not? Why not and what needs to be changed? Here are my goals for the month of March: GOALS I WILL MAINTAIN: eat every 2-3 hours drink water with every meal drink tea with every other meal drink 1-2 coffees a day enjoy one deserving Guilt-Free meal a week stick to my competition diet 100% stick to my training program 100% go to bed at a reasonable hour at the beginning of the week layout my workouts for the week say “No thank you” to unplanned treats not drinking alcohol develop further relationships with positive/supportive people plan and organize opportunities with my coach for the team be true to myself work hard to chase my dreams GOALS I WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE: setting a time I will stop “working” after I am home from my career begin my food prep before 7:00pm take more time to unplug from social media and more time to connect in the present focus on creating or cooking/baking new clean-eating recipes on the weekend and not during the week get at least 6-7 hours of sleep a night no 5:00AM workouts unless I went to bed at an early hour gain more patience/tolerance for negative perspectives/people spend more time practicing photography reading more dedicate more time to posing I have a clear vision in my mind of what is to come and I will continue to focus on those thoughts. I also have an elaborate vision board on display that reminds me of my goals each and every day. REFLECTION: There are many things that have happened since last year that took me by surprise. There are things happening now that I can’t help but smile about and shake my head in disbelief over. It really is true when they say “When it rains, it pours”. I have said this before but I still feel like I am watching this all unfold from someone else’s eyes. I was speaking with a close friend of mine the other night and I said “I can’t believe “this” and what is happening”. I had to thank her because almost one year ago we sat in my car discussing this journey and she turned to me and said “You’re an athlete in the making and I’m lucky because I get to see you turn PRO”. I was taken back by this and really wasn’t sure what to say. Although I knew what I wanted in my heart, I didn’t see what she saw then. The things that we spoke about one year ago are starting to happen now and sometimes it feels like I’m dreaming but I’m not. Back to our conversation a few nights ago, we continued on chatting and I expressed to her that I didn’t think these “things” that are happening now would actually happen. She responded with “Yes, you did. Because if you didn’t then none of this would have happened. You must have believed in this in order for it to happen”. I thought about it for a minute and she was right. Over the last 8 years I spent a lot of time envisioning a future I wanted for myself. Over the last 2 years I discovered a federation that I hold near to my heart. Over the past year I invested unlimited time planning, chasing, and envisioning what I wanted to come out of my journey and how I wanted things to unfold. There was a reason I competed with another federation first. There was a reason even though my coach said I was ready that I didn’t compete at the WBFF WORLD’s. Everything has it’s place and it’s reason. If you know what you want, ASK THE UNIVERSE, believe that it will happen, and make sure you’re ready for it because I can promise you that it will come. I’m excited to share some of the realities that are unfolding. Forever grateful. Trust me when I say, never stop chasing your dreams and never stop believing in yourself. Your dream is waiting for you to find it. Let’s Do This!

Well I certainly can’t organize a challenge and not be part of it myself, now can I?!

Congratulations to those of you who have continued onto your second phase of the 30 day challenge! A congrats also goes to those of you who have joined this month’s challenge for the first time! Reading everyone’s journey was inspiring on it’s own so I am excited to see what progress comes from this month. Keep the honest reflections coming. I know I’m not alone when I say I enjoy reading and responding to them. I’m really happy to see so many fitblrs connecting and reaching out to one another. This is priceless. THANK YOU!

This should not come as a surprise but we ALL need to set goals. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or you’re a PRO! We all need to take time to check in with ourselves and see if we’re moving in the right direction. If we are? Awesome! If not? Why not and what needs to be changed?

Here are my goals for the month of March:

GOALS I WILL MAINTAIN:

  1. eat every 2-3 hours
  2. drink water with every meal
  3. drink tea with every other meal
  4. drink 1-2 coffees a day
  5. enjoy one deserving Guilt-Free meal a week
  6. stick to my competition diet 100%
  7. stick to my training program 100%
  8. go to bed at a reasonable hour
  9. at the beginning of the week layout my workouts for the week
  10. say “No thank you” to unplanned treats
  11. not drinking alcohol
  12. develop further relationships with positive/supportive people
  13. plan and organize opportunities with my coach for the team
  14. be true to myself
  15. work hard to chase my dreams

GOALS I WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE:

  1. setting a time I will stop “working” after I am home from my career
  2. begin my food prep before 7:00pm
  3. take more time to unplug from social media and more time to connect in the present
  4. focus on creating or cooking/baking new clean-eating recipes on the weekend and not during the week
  5. get at least 6-7 hours of sleep a night
  6. no 5:00AM workouts unless I went to bed at an early hour
  7. gain more patience/tolerance for negative perspectives/people
  8. spend more time practicing photography
  9. reading more
  10. dedicate more time to posing

I have a clear vision in my mind of what is to come and I will continue to focus on those thoughts. I also have an elaborate vision board on display that reminds me of my goals each and every day.

REFLECTION:

There are many things that have happened since last year that took me by surprise. There are things happening now that I can’t help but smile about and shake my head in disbelief over. It really is true when they say “When it rains, it pours”. I have said this before but I still feel like I am watching this all unfold from someone else’s eyes. I was speaking with a close friend of mine the other night and I said “I can’t believe “this” and what is happening”. I had to thank her because almost one year ago we sat in my car discussing this journey and she turned to me and said “You’re an athlete in the making and I’m lucky because I get to see you turn PRO”. I was taken back by this and really wasn’t sure what to say. Although I knew what I wanted in my heart, I didn’t see what she saw then. The things that we spoke about one year ago are starting to happen now and sometimes it feels like I’m dreaming but I’m not.

Back to our conversation a few nights ago, we continued on chatting and I expressed to her that I didn’t think these “things” that are happening now would actually happen. She responded with “Yes, you did. Because if you didn’t then none of this would have happened. You must have believed in this in order for it to happen”. I thought about it for a minute and she was right. Over the last 8 years I spent a lot of time envisioning a future I wanted for myself. Over the last 2 years I discovered a federation that I hold near to my heart. Over the past year I invested unlimited time planning, chasing, and envisioning what I wanted to come out of my journey and how I wanted things to unfold. There was a reason I competed with another federation first. There was a reason even though my coach said I was ready that I didn’t compete at the WBFF WORLD’s. Everything has it’s place and it’s reason. If you know what you want, ASK THE UNIVERSE, believe that it will happen, and make sure you’re ready for it because I can promise you that it will come. I’m excited to share some of the realities that are unfolding. Forever grateful.

Trust me when I say, never stop chasing your dreams and never stop believing in yourself. Your dream is waiting for you to find it.

Let’s Do This!

Comments
  • 4th March
    2012
  • 04
Comments
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