one of our very own cover models from our June 2015 issue, on her epic win. As the defending Ms. Bikini Olympia champion, Ashley Kaltwasser came out with everything she had to win the 2015 gold medal, becoming the first Ms. Bikini to win three times in a row. Way to go Ashley!
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22 Christmas Abbott
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58 42 Photographer: Davi Borges
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Leah Ward
IFBB & WBFF Figure Pro Champion
Monica Brant
Michelle Lewin
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Power Park Fitness Photo: Trinity Greer
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Business Owner, CrossFit Competitor, Olympic Lifter & Author
Christmas Abbott 34
Personal Trainer, Fitness Model, Health & Fitness Writer, Cellucor & Dcore Athlete
4WARD Fitness, TEAM MAX MUSCLE, AmandaLouise Swimwear & Oral I.V. Sponsored Athlete, WBFF Pro Fitness Model
Leah Ward
Felicia Romero
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Internationally published photographer
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Aerialist, Actress, Circus Performer, Producer, Writer & Director
Davi Borges
Branca Ferrazo
Jen Jewell 42
Celeb Trainer, 7X Fitness Cover Model, Motivational Speaker & IFBB Figure Pro Model
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Internationally Renowned Fitness Model
Michelle Lewin & Personal Trainer/Manager
Jimmy Lewin Exclusive interview
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34 Jen Jewel
48 Felicia Romero
70 Branca Ferrazo
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Model & Competitor
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READERS Spotlight
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Sports Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, IFBB fitness Competitor, Fitness, Beauty and glamour Model
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Personal Trainer & WBFF Pro Fitness Model
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Internationally published photographer
Amy Rozier Marie Blanchard Cate Garret
Ashley Veenstra David Moser
10 Monica Brant
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Practice
By: Yoga Instructor Crystal Milana
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Owner Team A to Z and Ulbrich Fit
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WBFF Fitness Diva Competitor & Fitness Model
Alyx Ulbrich
Gigi Gambal
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retired. Of course she did not follow the traditional paths of American retirement. She is enjoying her “Golden Years� with a new physical challenge Power Park Fitness. She shares all about it with our readers and why you all would love it as a retirement activity. More to come on Monica in our next issue.
hat is amazing about our cover fitness model? Michelle Lewin has amassed six and a half million fans on Facebook. Those numbers show that Michelle is not just doing something right, but all things right. Raw talent is half of her success, the other half is the talent and genius of her manager, Jimmy Lewin. Read about how they work and succeed together in our article from Jason Cloninger and Darcy Tharp. Wait, we have more amazing women to share with you. From the Mr. Olympia competition in Las Vegas in September, our own cover model in June 2015, Ashley Kaltwasser brought home a title. What is amazing about her title? This is the third year in a row that she has won the Ms. Bikini Olympia. The first ever to do so. Congratulations Ashley, we know you celebrated with a donut. Next month we will have more about the Mr. Olympia competition. Monica Brant. I know I do not even have to describe her as amazing, it is who she is by definition. She is a fitness icon who after years of successfully competing
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Cara Browning interviewed Branca Ferrazo who has an amazing talent. Cara talked with her about being an aerialist, an actress and a circus performer. She has had the unique experience of being part of Cirque du Soleil. Austin Thomas talked to one amazingly badass author, Christmas Abbott. Her new book is The Badass Body Diet. Christmas is also a CrossFit competitor, an Olympic Lifter, and an entrepreneur. But wait, I have not told you an amazing thing about her; she is part of a NASCAR pit crew. Also be sure to check the images of our Internationally Published Photographers Davi Borges and David Moser This issue is filled with fit bodies, you will be inspired by so many of them. We hope that after you have finished reading the magazine at MOSTMAGPUB.com, you will go to our Social Media pages for more information about all of them. The absolute most amazing thing we have to share with you this month is another MOST first. Our talented Art Director, Miriam Jave, had a beautiful baby girl. Congratulations to the new mom and dad and we cannot wait to spoil her.
Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Cameron Habashian Editor in Chief:
Biani Xavier
Managing Editor & Associate Publisher:
Kelly Price
Contributing Associate:
Shanan Maynard Charles Dorsey Jr Brian Landis Crystal Milana Social Media Marketing Manager and Associate Editor:
Managing Editor:
Brian Price
Darcy Tharp
Contributing Writers:
Editorial Assistant & Contributing Writer:
Evani Seested Contributing Editor:
Jessica Jessie Art Director:
Miriam Jave Director of IT & Creative Solutions:
Rajiv Ghangrekar Contributing Designer & Writer:
Jenna Belt Celebrity Associate Director:
Sabina Bloom Cara Browning Jason Cloninger Elizabeth Price Denise Smith Erica Spaeth Austin Thomson Lilly Willner Kia Vang Editors/Proof Readers:
Mayelee Watts Marrisa Poe
Rachel Alexandra Greiner Social Media Strategists: Account Executive:
Christine Jackson
Yvonne Fyne-Nsofor Edna Jones Marrisa Poe Mayelee Watts
You will find related information to this and previous issues by following us at:
Most Magazine
MostMag.tumblr.co
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Photo by: Elle G. Photography 8 || FITNESS M A G A Z I N E ellegphotography.com
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Photo by:
Trinity Greer www.trinitygreer.com
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F.E.M. Camp™ Owner, IFBB Fitness Olympia Champion 1998, WBFF Figure Pro Champion 2010/2013, USATF Masters Track Athlete & Coach
Power Park Fitness www.powerparkfitness.com Monica Brant www.monicabrant.com twitter.com/Monica_Brant www.facebook.com/monicabrantfanpage IG @monicabrant
Having been a Professional IFBB /WBFF Fitness and Figure competitor for 23 years plus running USATF Sprints for a few years, I have worked with many great trainers over the years. Earlier this year, I was in need of a new fitness goal and reached out to a good friend and trainer, Yancy Culp, to connect and find out what was happening in his world. He shared with me that he was enjoying a new twist to his already successful training business in Austin, TX called OCR training. Well, even after all the years in the business I had no clue what OCR meant! With all the changes in culture and training, I had somehow missed this! Yancy shared with me that OCR meant Obstacle Course Racing and it was the largest/fastest growing sport in the world 3 years running and now he is one of the top trainers in the country! Since I was in the market for a new personal fitness goal (I promote a health challenge and needed a new 90 Day Goal in our Active/Fitness Category) this training sounded like a perfect fit for me! >>>
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Started my training I would be on my own for most days since I live almost 2 hrs drive away from him and it would not be feasible to train but only once a week in Austin. However, he shared that there was a fantastic trainer and facility close to me that he would happily connect me with which is David Yarter and Power Park Fitness! Little did I know how impressive PPF ranch was and how much I would learn from David in a short period of time; I have always LOVED playing ‘monkey girl’ and hanging/swinging from things but hadn’t done any of this type ‘exercise’ in years. My first visit to PPF was an eye opener and really helped set me up for understanding what my training needed to be for my success in my 1st three Spartan Sprints that I would run during my 90 Day Challenge. Since PPF has the outdoor course and the indoor ANW tools, David instructed me on both which gave me confidence that I would be able to compete and be successful in my races no matter what obstacles I came across. At this time I am training for my 4th Spartan Sprint and in the meanwhile thoroughly enjoying the ANW activities! I find I enjoy the less running and more obstacles since that is what I am more accustomed to both physically and mentally. Coming from Fitness, Figure and USATF Sprinting (Masters) my training has primarily surrounded anaerobic not as much aerobic. The distance in the Spartan Sprints I’ve run, even though called ‘Sprint’, are up to 5 miles along with the 20-25 obstacles and since I haven’t done any distance training in my life (racing only up to 400m) it’s been pretty taxing for me. Definitely pushing the body to run for longer periods is challenging with my ‘sprinter’ build but it’s also the mind that comes into play. Both have to be trained to accept the new style exercise and I believe I am up for the CHALLENGE!
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Some of my favorite outside obstacles are: Leapathon (3 barrels to run and leap, jump, slide over) Slider (incline traverse with 2x12 plank that you use hands or hands and feet to move along while also hanging upside down) Hop & Go (2 sets of different box jumps with balance beams immediately following) Hercules Hoist (love feeling strong in my upper body! I’ve always been strong in legs so fun to feel the strength in my back and hands developing better) Wall of Sparta (8 ft wall) Vine Climb (20 ft rope)
As I continued training with David for the Spartan Sprints he introduced me to some of the ANW obstacles inside his gym where we could avoid some of the TEXAS HEAT! Being that we are in TX.. Sometimes training in 100 degree weather is tough! The indoor training has also allowed me to gain strength in my upper body and learn how to use my body in motion to move through the obstacles. Some of my favorite indoor exercises are: Hanging/Swinging Rings (4 hanging rings at different spaces apart) Lache Bars 14 ft Warped Wall (I am able to get up this fairly easily because of my sprint background!) Spider Wall There is still A LOT to learn and work on and with proper time for training it could be really fun to audition for next year’s ANW.. Possibly being the oldest gal to enter if I ended up being cast! At the time of writing this my focus is on my next Spartan Sprint. With any new routine or exercise plan I have to prepare myself accordingly and with OCR It’s no different!
For those of you that are looking forward to training with David at PPF I have jotted down some helpful tips on preparing yourself based on my experience. 1) Rest appropriately the night before you go so that you are READY for all the new training both mentally and physically. Learning the obstacles takes strength but it also takes brain power! 2) Schedule your eating around the timing of your practice. Be sure to include plenty of high quality carbs (sweet potatoes are my personal favorite) for the 2 meals PRIOR so that you don’t putter out too soon! 3) Be sure to have full Glycogen storages, but not overly full where you feel sluggish! Should have your last high quality meal with Carbs/Protein/ Healthy Fat 75 min’s prior and at 30 min’s before you start warming up, I like to use a product called BeetElite that opens up my blood vessels through the NO production to allow more nutrients from the great food I just ate to flow through my body and be used as energy! Plus beets are one of the superfoods that have survived ancient times to the present as one of the BEST sources of powerful macronutrients and natural antioxidants you can eat! After a workout >>>
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at PPF you are guaranteed to have many free radicals floating around your body that NEED antioxidant to combat it! You can find this superfood here: www. beetelite.com 4) Hydrate yourself plenty prior to your session. Start sipping your water about 60 min’s out so that you are comfortably hydrated but not full water belly. I like to include a high quality electrolyte to my water called Ultima Replenisher. David provides 2 -3 water spots on the course, Best tasting water you will find anywhere! Straight from his well and super cold! 5) Give yourself a 20-30 min warm up, especially if you came in from a longer drive. If you don’t know a proper warm up, David has excellent advice.
your legs with knee high socks or compression socks. You WILL get banged and bruised, all part of the training and comes with the territory! I would definitely NOT wear shorts, unless you want all of your legs scraped up. 7) Wear sunblock and sunglasses to protect your face/eyes from the outdoor elements. 8) Ladies, if your nails are long, I suggest trimming them down. Short is in anyways! 9) Wear a good, fresh pair of trail running shoes for the outdoor course (I am enjoying Salomon brand of trail shoe at this time) and bring a second (clean) slightly lighter and more flexible shoes for the indoor training. 10) Come with a coachable spirit and you will have the time of your life and become addicted to the OCR training opportunities! Enjoy!
6) Wear longer fitted pants that you can move comfortably in and won’t fall down in any position (women I am speaking to!) and cover
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Facebook and YouTube: Power Park Fitness Instagram: powerparkfitness Twitter: PowerParkFit by: David Yarter
We have always been fans of American Ninja Warrior and my dad and I have ran several Spartan Races together which is where I first realized how much people love seeking to challenge themselves for the feeling of Victory at any cost. Every time we raced, we also realized standing at the finish line cheering and hugging strangers that are now comrades who had battled the same fight as you, and won. There were so many different types of people of every age, from those who were extremely fit to those that were in a weight loss challenge, and they were on a mission to conquer no matter how insurmountable the obstacle. Regardless of how long it took or how hard the struggle, help or no help, solo or as a team, every person felt the same feeling of “I won!�. Many gyms and sports do not accomplish this in such a large pool of people. This experience is what we wanted to recreate, but not just a few times a year or on your Weekend Warrior Adventure; any day of the week at any time you choose. Ninja, Spartan or both, you decide how accomplished >>>
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you want to feel when you leave and everything you learn while you are having fun training is applicable to scenarios you may encounter in real life. I was fortunate enough to work under a Master Craftsman and Engineer, Mike Timmons, for 9 months at Alpha Warrior before the company changed direction resulting in me leaving the business. Here, we built obstacles that took thousands of hours to design, fabricate, build and test prior to athletes using them at the big day of the event. The most amazing part was seeing how much people actually enjoyed the obstacles the Crew had created; straining, grunting, truly working hard, overcoming fear, and tapping into adrenaline that leads up to the epic feeling of accomplishment. I knew that the knowledge and experience I gained there, plus the passion to create couldn’t go to waste and my dad had the “obstacle bug” just as much as I did. Ninja Obstacles looked easy on TV, and we realized that they were not when my dad decided to build a Salmon Ladder over a year prior to the business being conceived. For weeks my dad and I went to war with the Salmon Ladder trying to become efficient enough to make it to the top without falling. After countless times hitting the
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crash pad it became something we could do multiple times in a row. Even though it looked easy, the strength and focus had to be there every single time. This is where our slogan comes from, “Stay Strong - Stay Focused”, and it became the only thought on our minds when we approached obstacles. Inspired by the pure challenge of the obstacle my dad had built, Vance Yarter - age 53, decided he would train to be on the 5th season of American Ninja Warrior and his submission video was accepted placing him in the Denver City Qualifier. That year he fell on a version of the Spinning Bridge which only poured gasoline on the fire in his quest to conquer Midoriyama, which is the final event consisting of 4 grueling stages. Truly inspired by my dad’s drive and determination I decided that I would try out with him the next year, just a few months after starting the business. To our surprise, both fell on the same obstacle in season 6 which again was a spinning bridge type obstacle. Obstacles will expose your weakness and for us it was balance. 2 weeks after I left Alpha Warrior my dad and I speculated on the idea of a facility that encapsulated the sport of Obstacle Racing in a safe, fun, no pressure environment. We wanted to
August 1 of 2013 we started business with less than 10 obstacles on the outdoor course which we named “The Green Mile” due to the organic feel and the courses’ ability to make you feel a little “green” when you finish. Over the next year this grew to over 25 obstacles, many of which have 2 lanes to prevent bottle necking during training sessions and events. For 9 of those months, I setup an outdoor office which was destroyed several times during sudden storms where I was out on the Course with a group and without the Training Center; training was very exposed to the elements. Despite this adversity, enough people were showing up for us to break ground and build a 3,000sqft building to fill with Ninja Obstacles and functional fitness equipment. 9 months of building, adding, and improving the facility became an after hour tradition as my parents and I would labor into the night creating something new, getting us one step closer to a complete Training Center. incorporate American Ninja Warrior and Spartan Race-style obstacles using both to provide real world obstacle experience for the seasoned athlete and fresh-off-the-couch alike. We wanted to create an atmosphere where people work hard to achieve something new every time they show up, while having fun and inevitably leaving in better shape both mentally and physically. For some it would be just for fun, others a way to become more efficient during their races, and the rest of us; a fun way to stay in shape.
As of August 1, 2015 we have had several thousands of amazing people come through and there are several hundred visits every single month. Many come in specifically to train for the show or an Obstacle Race, but a majority came purely to have fun and challenge themselves, seeking to achieve more than their previous visit. Many show up with the assumption that they will “crush” the obstacles, but find out very quickly that they will have to change their routine in response to the challenge. This is one of my favorite parts of the business. Over the next 2-6 months people >>>
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will undergo a physical and mental transformation to conquer the taunt given originally by themselves when they approached the obstacle; having to eliminate junk, eat clean food, work out regularly, and get more rest than the Average American Prescribes. “American Ninja Warrior” obstacles have a magnet-like power to almost any person partly due to the suspense created by the show and also due to the “Best Athletes” failing on them right after someone else just made it look so simple. It’s amazing how Obstacles ignite a feeling of “I can do that” regardless of age, gender or
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fitness level and Power Park Fitness is committed to fueling that fire because that fire burns in us every day. We are incredibly thankful to have so many people supporting us and allowing us to be a part of their journey to become a better person on a daily basis. The Green Mile is now 1.75 miles with 27 obstacles and the Training Center has 16 obstacles, both of which are going to continue to grow.
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Business Owner, CrossFit Competitor, Olympic Lifter & Author
www.christmasabbott.com www.facebook.com/ChristmasAbbottFanPage twitter.com/christmasabbott instagram.com/christmasabbott
Photo Credit:
Simply Perfection Photography www.simplyperfectionphotography.com
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By: Austin Thomson
Returning from Iraq with her newly discovered passion, Christmas opened her own studio in North Carolina and eventually became a highly respected member at the CrossFit Headquarters Seminar Staff. Abbott has continued to push and train her team onto new heights as they compete at a variety of events. Along the way, Christmas became a NASCAR pit crew tire changer and in December of 2013, got her place as nationally ranked Olympic Lifter. Christmas is once
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again continuing her fitness career as she has recently started her fitness and diet seminar, the Christmas Abbott Workshop. Christmas joined us at MOST to discuss why CrossFit is so important to her, her many passions, and what to expect at her packed seminars. Of course, we had to ask about her unique name and ironically enough, the Christmas season is Christmas’ favorite time of the year. However, she says, “Thanksgiving comes in a close second”.
Abbott’s spark came from her time Iraq where she says she learned many traits and qualities that make up who she is today. Learning “organization and flow” has certainly helped Abbott in her entrepreneurship. Most of all, she says that she learned how valuable she really is and to hold herself in a higher regard. Given that CrossFit is a huge part of her life, she had plenty to say on exactly why she loves it. “I love the diversity of CrossFit. Because it always keeps things interesting and fun, it pulls people in that you would never expect and forges a vastly
diverse community.” As for those looking to get into CrossFit, Christmas has one major piece of advice, “technique, technique, technique!” Abbott says to always have fun with your training though and to never put to much pressure on yourself. “Invoke” is the name of Abbott’s CrossFit studio in North Carolina, so naturally we wanted to know what Abbot’s definition of invoke is. Christmas says that it means to “activate what’s inside you” and that her gym is a place to discover a new side of yourself. Abbott’s favorite CrossFit exercises include the muscle ups, thrusters, and the snatch.
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In addition to all of Abbott’s other ventures, she has written a best-selling book, The Badass Body Diet. In fact, Christmas says that writing the book was very relaxing, especially because she gets to spend some extra time in the kitchen. She loves to cook and create recipes, which led to the inspiration for her writing. In addition to cooking, Christmas loves to spend time with her dog, Fran, and being outdoors. Abbott’s seminars are selling out across the nation and give others the chance to make healthy and positive decisions when it comes to their lives. Abbott says her favorite part of her new seminar is called “The Body Review”. In this section, Abbott teaches people how to see food differently, and to not get clouded and confused at the overwhelming information that can be involved in nutrition. When it comes to Abbott’s own diet, she says she follows the exact strategies she lays out in her book. A few of Abbott’s role models include Nicole Carroll and Annie Sakamoto, who were in the first CrossFit video Christmas had seen. She says that their petite yet powerhouse figures resonated with her. Christmas continues to push boundaries and she says she never wants to look back and think that she could have done something more. Living life to full potential and willing to take a step out of your comfortable threshold is something that Christmas advocates. As far as other sources of inspiration, she loves hearing people’s personal testimonies, even the ones in her life. Abbott says that watching her mother “kick cancer’s booty” was an amazing feeling. Abbott continues to push herself each and every day. In addition, through her seminars and constant interactions with people, she urges others to make the same push. Abbott is not only a fitness superstar, but also a role model on how to make the most out of each and every day.
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Personal Trainer, Fitness Model, Health & Fitness Writer, Cellucor & Dcore Athlete
www.fitnessjewelltraining.com www.facebook.com/fitnessjewelltraining Twitter @fitnessjewell instagram.com/fitnessjewell Photo Credit:
James Patrick www.jamespatrick.com
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By: James Patrick & Brian Price
A former competitive gymnast, she grew up working out five to six days a week. Yet when injuries sidelined her gymnastics career, Jen promptly joined a local health club in pursuit of other fitness goals. Her first job in high school was working at a gym, and she then continued to train clients and instruct group fitness class throughout college. While she has always loved working out, there was a time when she found herself severely off track. About ten years ago, after suffering the sudden loss of her best friend, she was sidetracked from her health & fitness goals. Jen ended up gaining nearly 50 pounds and had a body fat percentage of over 35%. This lasted for a couple of years. Fortunately, she was reminded that she needed to place her own health & fitness as a priority once again and set a solid example for her clients. Slowly but surely she embraced a healthier approach to food, workouts and gradually earned lasting results through a balanced approach to her fitness. Perhaps surprisingly, Jen hasn’t always worked in the field of fitness. In fact, after she completed her Bachelor’s in both Marketing and Public Relations from California State University, Sacramento, she took a brief detour from her work in fitness. She spent time in corporate America as >>>
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a business consultant for a Fortune 500 company and then as a territory manager & medical sales representative. In November 2011, she decided to take a leap of faith, follow her passion for fitness and helping others, and left her corporate job behind in pursuit of a full-time career in fitness. Now, nearly four years later, she has a diverse list of clientele across the globe. Through her online training & coaching business she is able to work with clients worldwide and enjoys working with any and every one who is looking to become their most fit and healthy self. When working with clients, Jen has them apply her “Fun with fitness” motto in order to help make each step of their fitness journey a more fun, enjoyable process. Her logic is simple: as long as you are participating in some sort of activity that you love or have fun with, the more apt you are to stick with it for the long run. Whether that means taking cardio workouts outdoors for a walk or hike, grabbing a friend for a date in the weight room or skipping the treadmill to hit a Zumba class, the objective is to always keep it fun. Workouts shouldn’t be something you dread, but instead enjoy. Ultimately this approach has helped increase the success rate for her clients, for teaching them that they can achieve results with a combined, balanced approach to their fitness has helped them develop a far more sustainable approach to their respective fitness journeys. This approach was also instrumental in Jen’s own transformation. MFM: How did you come up with your “fun with fitness” motto? JJ: My “fun with fitness” motto started back when I was over 35% body fat and wearing a size 11 in jeans. Despite this high body fat percentage, weight gain and a pant size that had increased from a 1 or 3 to an 11, I had still been hitting the gym. Clearly I wasn’t putting in enough effort with the intensity of each workout, and I certainly wasn’t paying near as much attention to a healthy
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and balanced diet. Not only was I nowhere near as healthy as I should have been I realized that I was stuck in a serious rut with my workouts and approach to fitness. My motivation to hit the gym was at an all-time low. In order for me to look forward to workouts, I knew I had to change things up from the typical “lift weights and hit the treadmill” routine I’d grown weary of. I didn’t want to dread my workouts anymore, I wanted to enjoy them. I love being outside, so I started taking my cardio outdoors for power walks in the neighborhood, hitting the hills, a local park for some laps and bodyweight workouts, and finally started taking those yoga classes I’d always wanted to. Suddenly, I was excited about working on my fitness again. I was looking forward to the next yoga session, spin class with my friends, lifting weights a few times a week and more. At this same time, I noticed that I started losing weight, I was getting leaner and had increased muscle definition, yet not one bit of the process had felt like “work” as it had all been fun. This is when it all pretty much clicked for me and I realized that the more fun I had with exercise, the easier it was for me to finally stick with it on a consistent basis. It was simple- if I didn’t want to go to the gym, I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, this didn’t mean that I skipped a workout that day, but instead of going to the gym when I didn’t want to, I would head outdoors, grab a friend for a hike, do yoga at home, etc. I’ve been able to achieve some serious results with this approach, and I’ve helped my clients and a number of others do the same. I teach my clients that “working out” isn’t limited to going to the gym each and every day and that they can instead embrace an array of activities that keep them active while working on their fitness. I am always teaching my clients that working out doesn’t have to be a chore but instead can be really enjoyable and fun. This has been instrumental in their achieving those hardearned and (importantly) sustainable, results.
MFM: What is it like to connect with your clients/fans directly across social media? JJ: I absolutely love it! Social media has truly been a game changer for me. In fact, if it weren’t for social media, who knows if I would have been able to leave my corporate job as quickly as I had. Back in late 2011, as a result of posting fitness related content on Facebook and Twitter and interacting with people on those social media platforms, I started to have inquiries about personal training services, writing articles and more. When the inquiries started to come in, I was still working
full-time with my medical sales job. Since I had been a personal trainer years prior, people were messaging me and asking if I was available for online training or in-person training sessions. I hadn’t really thought much about online training (it was a fairly new concept back in 2011), but I really missed helping others with their fitness, as that is something that’s truly always made me happy. I wasn’t thrilled with the job I was at, as I wasn’t passionate about selling brackets to orthodontists, so I decided to take on one online client in addition to my normal job. Little did I know at the time that
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one client and her positive experience working with me would quickly lead to a number of referrals and be the catalyst for me to leave my career in the corporate world and embark in fitness full time. In addition to social media helping to allow me to pursue a career in fitness, I’ve been able to reach far more people than I truly ever imagined possible. Whether it’s with posting links to articles that I’ve written, sharing my favorite fit tips, how I stay motivated, or details from a workout that I post, because of the power and vast range of social media, I’ve been able to help people with their fitness in all parts of the world. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to continents I’d never ventured to before, to hold fitness workshops in places such as Australia, South Africa and more. I am still floored by the amount of comments, messages, emails and more I get from (mostly women) around the globe letting me know that I have helped them in some way or another through sharing a variety of fitness info across social media. This is definitely not something I take for granted one bit, as I realize how truly fortunate I am to be able to help others welcome health & fitness into their lives. MFM: What did you learn doing your time in the corporate world that you apply to your fitness journey? JJ: My time in the corporate world was spent mostly in sales and marketing. In an outside sales position, you are given quite a bit of freedom. I worked from my home office and didn’t have to report in person to a boss on a regular basis- I would go weeks, sometimes months without having seen my boss in person. With this type of freedom comes a lot of responsibility as you have to have the self-discipline to take it upon yourself to organize your day in the most efficient manner possible, often with little to no direction from your boss. You are in charge of your territory and it’s up to you to go out, make the calls in person,
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put in the effort, follow-up and be a consistent face throughout the territory in order to earn the sales results that you’re supposed to. Holding yourself accountable to making the sales calls, consistently putting in the effort each day, even when you are not seeing immediate results, is all part of the job. You get results if you put in the effort (not to mention those that don’t hit their sales goals don’t often have a sales job for very long). Fortunately for me, having this type of experience in the corporate world has helped me immensely in fitness. The same habits that I honed and adhered to in an outside sales job transfer quite well over to what I do now in the field of fitness. From working from home and being my own boss, I have quite a bit of freedom. This type of freedom isn’t for
everyone, but luckily the habits of self-discipline, focus and drive were already in place when I left the corporate world. I hold myself accountable for both my professional life in the fitness world as well as the results I want for my own health and fitness. Just as in the corporate world, with fitness, results don’t happen overnight. Through consistent efforts, focus and determination I’ve been able to see the results from my hard work pay off- which to me, serves as an even greater source of motivation! MFM: What have you learned from your clients that has changed anything about the way you think or personal approach to fitness? JJ: My clients serve as a constant source of motivation for me. Day in, day out, reading their emails, seeing their progress pictures and helping them become a healthier, more fit and confident version of themselves along the way. I truly feel privileged to be able to work so closely with them on their health and fitness and I take my position as their trainer, coach, mentor, etc., very seriously as I know I have a tremendous opportunity to help teach them the steps to living a healthy, balanced lifestyle with a sustainable approach to fitness. Working with them every step of the way, whether it is teaching them the fundamentals of healthy eating, how to make their workouts more fun, or offering insight on how to balance a personal/social/work/family life with their newfound fitness lifestyle, always motivates and inspires me to constantly strive to be my best me. Reading their emails and the positive impact that working with me on their fitness has had on all aspects of their lives is truly motivating. Their results serve as a constant reminder to look for results everywherenot just the scale or the mirror as some trainers want their clients to, but the progress and change in mindset, confidence, attitude, achieving goals outside of fitness and more. My clients may not realize it, but each and every day they help push me to be my best me. >>>
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MFM: Please give us a quick tip on staying focused and motivated to achieve one’s goals. JJ: Always remember that every little bit counts! Progress is progress, no matter how big or small and every little bit adds up, earning huge results! If low on motivation, dig deep and ask yourself, WHY YOU STARTED in the first place! What was going thru your mind when you set these goals? How awesome will it feel once you reach them? How will it impact you and change your life when you meet these goals? These are all things that I bear in mind if I find myself wavering a bit or that I tell a client who shares they are lacking a bit of motivation. Chances are, when you first set that goal you were as motivated as ever. Over time, motivation or focus can wane slightly, but once we reignite that fire by reminding ourselves why we started in the first place, those same initial feelings of motivation and determination will return, ultimately leading to results! Look for my upcoming videos, books, sponsorship and other projects I am thrilled to be able to share that my new website will be launching later this year. JenJewell.com will be a source of information for all things fitness, complete with video tutorials, workouts that people will be able to download, full programs, nutrition information and much more. I’m really looking forward to the launch of this site, as I’ll finally be able to share the fitness program that I’ve created that will be able to help so many people simplify (and have fun with) their approach to a healthy and fit lifestyle. My goal is to be able to help as many people as possible embrace a healthy lifestyle through a fun, sustainable approach.
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OXYGEN ENRICHED AIR For Today’s Active Lifestyle
Oxygen enriched air for improved health, endurance, mental clarity, high altitude and relief from hangovers. For recommendations to use for sports, fitness, hangovers, altitude acclamation, stress and elderly please see our website at www.buyo24u.com. For recreational use only. Not a medical device nor intended to treat, cure or prevent any medical diseases. The benefits of this product and any statements on this label have been evaluated by the FDA.
Photo Credit:
James Patrick www.jamespatrick.com
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4WARD Fitness, TEAM MAX MUSCLE, AmandaLouise Swimwear & Oral I.V. Sponsored Athlete, WBFF Pro Fitness Model
www.facebook.com/leahwardfitness instagram.com/leahwardfitness twitter.com/leahwardfitness
By: James Patrick & Brian Price
After graduating high school she left her hometown and attended the University of Arizona where she earned a degree in Marketing from the Eller College of Business
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Management. Leah spent 3 months studying international business in India and fell in love with its culture. While studying there she placed runner–up in the India Global Cohort 2011 Business Case competition and found that she was very attracted to marketing. Leah soon realized that with the challenge of college being over she needed a new motivation activity and began exploring the fitness industry and instantly found her passion drawn to competing. Driven to live a healthier lifestyle has led to new work outs recipes and the best of friends. Leah is truly anxious and excited to explore this new side to her life and see what opportunities are to come. MFM: What do you look for in recipes when trying new foods for your diet? LW: I always look for unique, fun, and healthy recipes. Something that makes me excited to try. First thing I always look for in recipes is the sugar content. I make sure the sugars are low for the serving size. Another thing I look for is the macro content. I don’t count my macros but I want to make sure the fat and carb intake isn’t too high for a meal. Whole foods are a must. I also try to stay away from processed food. MFM: How did you navigate making a path for yourself after college? LW: I grew up driven to become successful. In college I learned that you have to be passionate about your goals in order to succeed. By being passionate about my career I’ve navigated my path by making choices and decisions not only based on >>>
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financial gain but personal happiness. I believe this balance is the key to a successful journey. MFM: What motivates you during competition preparation? LW: Hands down without question, the results! When I first started my fitness journey seeing the weekly changes pushed me to continue. Even to this day, being a fitness pro, it is the changes I see and feel that excite me. With each fitness competition it is my goal to always bring a better package than the last show. MFM: How does your training before a competition differ from the rest of the year? LW: Ironically my training remains the same year round. I love being in the gym so a normal routine consists of lifting 5-6 days a week with a few sessions of fun cardio. The only thing that changes for me is my diet. I make sure to reduce the cheat meals and make healthier choices. MFM: Please give us a quick tip on getting mentally prepared for competitions. LW: Always remember why you started. Going into fitness competitions requires you to mentally be comfortable with yourself and to accept flaws and judgement from others. Be proud of who you are and what you have achieved because if it were easy, anyone would do it! For the bad days that we all have; lace up your favorite shoes; put on your favorite outfit, and rock out to your favorite song! Look for my upcoming videos, books, sponsorship and other projects Come find me at the Phoenix Europa October 15 & 16th at the Oral IV booth.
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Celeb Trainer | 7X Fitness Cover Model Motivational Speaker | IFBB Figure Pro Promoter-Felicia Romero Classic Founder @frfitmethod- Arizona
www.frfitmethod.com www.facebook.com/FeliciaRomeroOnline instagram.com/feliciaromero
By: James Patrick & Brian Price
Becoming a Youth Ambassador and Spokesmodel for Hi Health, a local franchise with over 50 stores in AZ, has allowed Felicia to speak at dozens of high schools and student athletes >>>
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educating them about proper training, nutrition and supplementation. She was also honored to be presented as the Keynote speaker for the Cesar Chavez Foundation dinner talking to high school seniors about following their passions post high school. With dozens of speeches and presentations given Felicia continues to educate and inform the youth, mainly to the youth across Arizona. Felicia is also an IFBB Figure Pro, competing at the Pro level for 8 years before retiring. With 5 Pro wins, 3 top 4 finishes at the Figure International and a top 5 finish at the Figure Olympia. She has competed all over the country as well as internationally before deciding to retire. She now hosts her very own successful show, The Felicia Romero Pro Classic, which is a Pro/ Am every November held in Arizona. She also works as a local fitness personality with frequent stints on NBC, CBS and her own segment on FOX news called “Felicia Romero’s Fit Method Tip of the Week”. She also made an appearance on Lifetime’s reality show, called Mission Makeover, as the fitness expert helping the contestants break past their plateau. With over a decade of experience Felicia has used her years of experience and trials and tribulations to evolve herself into now what is known as Felicia Romero’s Fit Method. Her main focus is to conquer the mind so that you may strengthen the body. Felicia has big plans for Fit Method, so expect one to possibly pop up in a neighborhood near you. Her true passion is helping people reach their fitness goals… her passion has led to her purpose! MFM: What has been your greatest motivation? FR: My greatest motivation honestly has been my family. I would not be where I am today without the love and support from them. Making my mom proud has always been a great motivator for me and eventually being able to take care of them.
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MFM: You have many awards and accomplishments under your belt. What does winning mean to you? FR: Winning doesn’t necessarily mean winning first place to me. Yes I always went into anything I competed in “to win” ...who doesn’t? But, honestly at the end of the day people forget and if you did not have fun doing it then what is the point? Winning to me is setting a goal and not giving up on it....the awards or the “win” is just the result of that hard work. MFM: What is one of your greatest success stories FR: One of my greatest success stories is selling my old business only to start a new one.....under my standards and everything I believe in. It was scary walking away but I knew at the end of the day I would build again… and I did. MFM: Why should people choose Fit Method above other programs? FR: Fit Method is a way of life. It is so much more than working out and changing your body....at Fit Method you change your life. We are a community that all support one another ....all different types of classes ranging from TRX to yoga to spin. MFM: Please give us a quick tip on becoming a better motivational/public speaker. FR: Know your audience and speak from the heart. Look for my upcoming videos, books, sponsorship and other projects - Working on opening up more Fit Method’s throughout the valley in the next couple of years.
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FITposium Splash Attention Fitness Modeling Talents: Success in the Fitness Modeling Industry is Attainable! FITposium is an Arizona-based educational and inspirational seminar focused on success in the fitness talent and modeling industry. This day-long workshop will feature a variety of sessions to prepare fitness talents with everything they needs to know to enter the marketplace! Learn about what magazines are looking for, how to develop a marketable portfolio, techniques on establishing lasting business relationships, how to most effectively communicate your story and, most importantly, how to make a profit in the industry!
ATTENDEES WILL LEARN: • How to brand themselves as a fitness talent • How to market that brand to the right contacts • How to develop key relationships • How to profit from their brand as a model • How to pitch to magazines and much more! WHEN: October 17th, 2015 WHERE: Holiday Inn Suites, 1600 S. Country Club Dr, Mesa, AZ 85210 PRICE: Only $99!
DAVE DREAS: Fitness model, co-owner of Arizona Traning Lab, an online fitness coach & creator of ModestlyRefined.com. He is a signed talent who has appeared on multiple covers, worked with ESPN The Magazine, filmed two in-store Reebok commercials, appeared in Men’s Health Next Top Trainer & earned ISSA’s Famous Alumni Award. Dave is a contributor for Men’s Fitness Online, IronmanMagazine.com and a sponsored Reebok Athlete. At FITposium Dave will teach the ins and outs of monetizing your business, developing a better understanding of opportunities available to fitness entrepreneurs. As the CEO of your business, you’ll grow as your business grows.
FITposim has brought together renowned industry experts all sharing the information you need to know. Our list of presenters includes: KIM DOLAN LETO: Published author, inspirational speaker, creator of the F.I.T. DVD series, and the Director of Family Health and Wellness for ISSA. She is a 4-time Oxygen cover model with her work published in Muscle & Fitness hers, Fitness, Success and 100s of other magazines. Kim is an ESPN Fitness America Champion and the recipient of the ISSA’s Famous Alumni Award with TV appearances on CBN, TBN, FOX Sports, ESPN & ABC. At FITposium Kim will teach about the management of your brand, relationship building with clients (i.e. the media), the importance of authenticity, and growing your platform through your unique message. LARUE V. BABER: Editor in Chief of Max Sports & Fitness Magazine, LaRue graduated summa cum laude from California State University Fullerton in 2000 and has since pursued a heavy career in journalism, first as a reporter for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin then as a features reporter for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. She has freelanced for multiple publications over the years and she even helped start an upscale fitness lifestyle publication covering Orange County, California. She landed the job as Editor in Chief/Creative Director for Max Sports & Fitness magazine in 2006 and has diligently worked to turn the magazine into a wellrounded fitness lifestyle publication fit for newsstands. She is proud to be doing work that she absolutely loves and strives to put out content that will help change lives for the better. Aside from work, LaRue is an avid traveler, a shameless foodie, a proud Dachshund owner and is marrying the man of her dreams in October 2015.
JAMES PATRICK: Internationally published photographer in the health and fitness industry. His work has been featured in Max Sports & Fitness Magazine, Oxygen Magazine, Muscle & Fitness Hers Magazine, Fitness Magazine (SA), Women’s Health & Fitness Magazine, Natural Muscle Magazine, MMA Uncaged Magazine and more! At FITposium James will be presenting on how fitness talents can take their brand and present it using story form for higher resonance with their target audience. This session will cover the four elements of what makes a successful brand story and how this applies to the fitness modeling industry. And more speakers and presentations to be announced! From understanding the publishing industry, to researching and targeting your audience, to creating stronger submissions - this seminar gives you the information and tools to better position yourself in the fitness modeling marketplace. Where else can you go to learn from highly published fitness talents, successful fitness entrepreneurs, and internationally published fitness photographer and more? For the low price of only $99 you will get multiple lifetimes’ worth of career advice from our panel of experts. Are you ready to get started on the next step in your career? Register for FITposium 2015 now! Stop waiting to launch your fitness dreams. Every day that goes by is another day with more and more competitors entering the marketplace. The longer you wait to energize your career – the more competition you allow in front of you. Being a talent in the fitness industry can be exciting and empowering. This seminar will give you the information you need to accelerate your journey!
Internationally published photographer
www.daviborgesfotografo.com.br instagram.com/daviborges_fotografo
By: Darcy Tharp
Born in Salvador, Bahia Davi now resides in the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro, which is the perfect setting for photo shoots with many gorgeous celebrities. It is this combination of an already ideal subject to shoot, along with doing so in spectacular places, which results in his extraordinary images. Fashion and sensual photography are his top specialties, and Davi has already photographed for big name magazines such as Vogue, VIP, Trip, and Playboy. For him it’s not the camera that takes the best picture, but the attentive eyes of the photographer, so he is constantly trying to innovate and better his own skills. For each shoot, he specifically picks a location to match the model’s look, and he is very involved when choosing the poses. Davi affirms that this trick is what transforms his photographs into true works of art. The models simply are made to look like they are part of nature and of the location where they are shooting. Davi has already done more than 1,000 photo shoots, and it is a must for every celebrity that their pictures are being done by him. He has essentially become the most famous celebrity photographer in the country. Take a look at some of these beauties through the lenses and attentive eyes of Davi.
MFM: Where do you find your inspiration for your images? DB: I like to explore nature. I love to shoot sensual pictures with style, nothing vulgar. I also enjoy transforming the image into art, always sexy but in good taste. MFM: What is your favorite camera/lens combination? DB: I have two cameras with the same specifications: CANON 5D MARK III; I am very loyal to them. I love to use lenses 24-70 - 2.8 and 50MM 1.2.
MFM: You are a self-taught photographer; do you have tips for our aspiring readers that want to get into the business? DB: First of all make sure you have a great professional in order to capture your best pictures/ portfolio. Then they must find an agency that focuses on the kind of modeling they are looking to do. Lastly, do it as soon as you can; this kind of job tends to be short lived. MFM: What tips can you give our aspiring fitness models? DB: They must be pretty, have great posture, and most importantly, be photogenic. MFM: Do you have any rules when it comes to your post processing? DB: When I post anything in social media, I always make sure to post a description of the job, who
the model was, my name, the makeup artist, everyone involved in the production, and other special thank you notes. MFM: Do you have a studio? DB: I don’t have a studio because most of my work is done outdoors. When or if I need to do some instudio work, I simply rent one. MFM: You have been published in many top magazines, what’s the goal for the next 5 years? DB: To make history MFM: Where do people find you in social media DB: By IG at @DAVIBORGES_FOTOGRAFO which is the only official Instagram account I have where I share all of my finished work.. The other IG is @ DAVI_FOTO where I post my everyday pictures and previews; this one is a little more personal.
Aerialist, Actress, Circus Performer, Producer, Writer, Director, Yogi, Animal Lover & The Storyteller
www.brancaferrazo.com twitter.com/brancaferrazo By: Cara Browning
So, primarily, Branca is the storyteller. However, secondarily? She’s the actress, aerialist, circus performer, writer, producer and director. All professions that are extremely challenging in their own ways, and all seem to require numerous training and preparation hours. So, how does she successfully juggle all of these passions? Discipline. Because circus is the most physically demanding, she disciplines herself to follow a routine. Branca knows how much time she must set aside to reach these tangible goals and plans accordingly. Setting and reaching these physical activity goals is what makes her succeed, which is the underlying goal. Just as success is the goal as a circus artist, it is also the goal for the rest of her >>>
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Photo by: Dominic Brunet
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areas of expertise. She strives to succeed in everything she does, and to do so, she carries over this skill of discipline. Aside from discipline, Branca is constantly looking for lessons through each and every one of her professions to continuously apply them to her next experience. Although the lessons she has learned from circus training are quite literal, like the need to be present and focused all the time to safely achieve moves, they still have relevance in other aspects of her life. Her highest intention, throughout all her endeavors, is to perform with focus, full-attention, and commitment. Without that focus, you can’t successfully accomplish goals. Before all of Branca’s endeavors became professions, they were merely challenges she had to accept and overcome. She started all of these activities because she had interest in them; however, she had to practice, see it through, and look for growth if she wanted to succeed. Although she says that this continuing practice is what the biggest challenge was, it was also her goal; and that clearly helped her to get where she is today. One of these challenges she started and saw through was working as both executive producer and actor in the film “Petunia.” This was her first experience with such high roles quite intimidating if you ask me. Nonetheless,
Branca didn’t look at her role as one that was too intimidating. She looked at it as a chance for her to not only tell a story to the audience, but also to learn from the talent around her. She was able to work with like-minded seasoned actors, and was constantly inspired by them. She started this project, and found only the positive in it, and as a result, she and her cast were able to complete a story to share with all movie watchers. As well as working with seasoned actors, Branca has also trained with numerous, renowned professionals. Although she loves having freedom to do and try the things she wants, she completely values the training experience she has gotten thus far. She believes it is vital to have a strong foundation to work with; there are more experienced people out there, no matter what the field, that want to help, and she entirely appreciates and utilizes that. They already have structured training and methods that can help you get to where you want to be on your own. She values all of her training experiences because she knows her skill level would be different without it. From noteworthy actors to Cirque du Soleil stars, Branca has worked with so many inspiring and beyond talented individuals (in so many different fields of work). So it’s no surprise that she’s encountered professionals that have >>>
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Photo by: LaShaunte Wade
immensely impacted her career and vice versa. However, when asked about it, she said one person specifically comes to mind: Caio Guimarães. Caio was not only a talented acrobat, but also a dear friend of Branca’s. He worked with Intrépida Trupe, the most respected circus troupe in Brazil, a troupe that Branca had dreamed about performing with and was able to perform with at Rio de Janeiro’s annual Carnival one year. She explained his inspiration shined through his actions. With his talent, he could’ve moved on to work with Cirque du Soleil and made a better life for himself, but his passion lied with what he already did, so he continued doing just that. He wanted to stay in Rio de Janeiro, and he wanted to make his passion possible for others by teaching
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them. He never gave up on his passion and dreams; “I admire that in him. He has, sadly, long been gone now. But never forgotten.” A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Branca traveled across the world at the mere age of 15 to start her career in the United States. Sounds a bit terrifying, right? Not for Branca – she claims she essentially had no fear at the time. “I believe we all start off so free, as such fearless, curious, passionate children.” She also believes that, at some point in life, everyone starts to let fear in; that’s why she believes in pursuing dreams as soon as they’re discovered. She, herself, followed her beliefs; she discovered her dreams, and then >>>
Photo by: LaShaunte Wade
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Photo by: LaShaunte Wade
went on to pursue them. Sure, she may have had some days when she questioned her passions, or felt lost, but she never gave up. She learned from these less pleasant experiences and continued to strive to do better. Because of these lessons, she doesn’t regret any of her experiences, and she wouldn’t want to regret anything no matter what; she doesn’t like regrets to begin with. Since moving from Brazil, Branca has experienced numerous diverse cultures, but they have not overwhelmed this fearless star. She has thoroughly enjoyed learning from these different cultures because she’s always been curious and open about differences (and even similarities) between people. She looks to find similarities between the differences; she sees the beauty in all cultures and truly looks to see how each culture links up to one another. She admits she
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has struggled whilst among these other cultures, but not because of pure cultural differences. The struggles came about when she was unable to pursue her passions; when she was not studying a skill or working on one of her many professions, that’s when she struggled. With regards to her familiarities, Branca’s struggle can be seen as a universal one. Branca often times finds herself missing connections, she misses moments or experiences, she misses exchanges with people that have left a mark on her life. She enjoys and cherishes her time traveling the world and engaging with and learning from new people, but just as anyone would, she misses these times and people when they’re gone. However, as for her language barriers, her struggle, or lack of struggle, has been quite unique. Growing up, Branca went to a German
Photo by: LaShaunte Wade
school, then later learned English and French to prepare for training and trips to Canada, England, and the U.S.. She knew her passions and knew that language could step in the way of them, so she did everything she could to overcome that barrier before it was presented. Of course, she was presented with some happenings in these various countries that forced her to keep learning, but she accepted it and did just that. In her life thus far, Branca has seen quite a lot: countries, languages, people, professions, and the list goes on. Her jobs keep her living a rather exciting life. Nevertheless, she says that even the most “exciting” jobs can be boring. People get tired of things and constantly want to try different things. So, to alleviate boredom, Branca wishes
to stay creative; she wants to continue to create positive things, no matter what they are. Branca says she could be done with all of her professions down the road or, at the same time, she may never be done with them. It’s up to her future to decide her path. But until then, she’ll continue doing everything that makes her happy and keeps her creating. She’s on a positive path and has no intentions on getting off of it anytime soon. She’s telling her story in multiple ways, and that’s all she needs. “As long as we’re on a positive path, doing things we love, and that bring joy to people, then it’s all good.”
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Internationally Renowned Fitness Model
Personal Trainer/Manager
www.michellelewin.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitnessMichelle Instagram: michelle_lewin Snapchat: michelle.lewin
Photo Credit:
Salomon Urraca Photography www.salomonurracaphotography.com https://instagram.com/surraca
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By: Darcy Tharp & Jason Cloninger
It is because of this mindset that, especially when it comes to couples, training together can always be a challenge. With couples who have two very different body types, or very different training methods, trying to train together can be difficult. The joining of a couple in the gym can definitely be an “eye opener” into our partner’s gym personality. Yes, a lot of us are the same person inside of the gym as we are outside of the gym. However, some of us are so different that the difference can be compared to the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It can even scare you to see your partner training in the gym for the very first time! Pointedly, the journey of a couple’s ability to train together is just as unique as our personal one. Finding fitness harmony between two people can definitely be challenging. When it is achieved, it is like the composition of a symphony, meet Michelle and Jimmy Lewin. Depending upon whether you know either of these two amazing professionals, or how you came to know them, you may have heard a single note or composition of one of their individual journeys. Michelle Lewin has become almost a house-hold name in the industry. Her social media presence has become titanic in measure, and she is definitely one of the most recognized and in-demand female figures within the realm of social media. Since her fitness career’s inception, she has found amazing success. Her own personal fitness achievements have erupted into the launch of an amazing career as a model, figure competitor, and now a fitness brand-name. Her website http://michellelewin.com opens a window for you into her life and achievements, linking you to her social media profiles and showing you the successes she’s amounted within that arena. >>>
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Her social media presence, better described as an explosion, is undeniably a significant indicator and contributor to the level of success Michelle has achieved in her career. Having two individual Instagram accounts, they both total a whopping eight million followers after only about two thousand posts between them. Her Facebook page has over six million page likes, his over six hundred thousand people talking about it, and has over forty-five thousand new likes within the last week alone! Her Twitter presence consists of over three-hundred thousand followers, and her YouTube channel boasts over one-hundred and thirty-thousand subscribers! Michelle #lacuerpa (Spanish for “The Body”), Lewin’s nickname of Miss Worldwide was achieved through the amount of recognition and success she’s achieved from fans all across the globe, and is well deserved. What most people didn’t know, until their video publication The Story was released several months ago, was that behind Michelle’s successes was a single dedicated and diligent professional. Helping her to build and develop herself, her online presence, and her personal brand, was her husband – Jimmy Lewin. He is her manager, trainer, and her social media and marketing promoter. Jimmy is no stranger to success achieved through hard work, dedication, and innovation. His faith and confidence in her has helped her to start her career, persevere through challenges and failures, and then later achieve the much deserved successes she’s amassed to date. Michelle describes her life as, “Latinas are fashion, fitness is fashion, and social media is booming. I happened to be in the middle of it, and I played my cards right.” She has become an international sensation, adored by fans, revered for her perfectly sculpted body, and responsible for motivating millions across the globe to focus on their fitness. The Venezuelan born cover model and fitness extraordinaire calls Miami home. In an encouraging story of coming from nothing, working
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in a clinic in Venezuela, the previously skinny Latina, managed to use social media to her advantage, and achieved massive stardom. Although she has always been admired for her overall hotness, Michelle is keen to remind women to work more on being inspiring rather than sexy. In an exclusive interview with MOST Fitness, both Michelle and Jim reveal their fitness and social media secrets and daily routines, and it is clear that having a partner completely in sync with one’s personal fitness is key, especially in a relationship.
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MOST Fitness Magazine: We have seen you perform so many different types of training in your videos, interviews, and in your photos on social media. What are your favorite training methods that you feel give you the best feeling that you are getting the best results? Michelle Lewin: Well, correct dieting is the most important of all. It might seem weird that I mention it here, but for me it’s also mental. If I eat badly, I feel bad and lose motivation. For targeted muscle groups, twice per week is a must. Once is normally enough, but twice for those muscles you really want to grow. Last, but not least, cardio is for me essential. No matter how strict the diet, I need to do cardio to really get the definition. MFF: You have been referred to as one of the most perfect female figures currently in the industry and you are recognized significantly by people outside of the industry for your figure. What do you think are your best aspects of your figure, and which is your least favorite aspect? ML: I’m pretty happy with my glutes, abs, and waist since I had none of that a few years ago. Those are super targeted groups for me, and I think I succeeded pretty well. Least must be my mind; I’m never really ok with how I look. That can be quite tiring that I cannot see what others see. MFF: Your husband Jimmy Lewin is your trainer, manager, and social media promoter. How has your husband helped you the most when it comes to each of these arenas? ML: He has been training 10 years more than me with different educated personal trainers, so everything he has learned he shows me. As a manager it’s extremely good to have. I would be completely run over if I did this myself. I believe too much in people, and think that everybody is good until proven the other way. Also as social media promoter, he is really involved. The reason is that you many times see girls boom and then fall like a stone. The reason is that no one is telling them
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what they are doing wrong. Everyone needs a second opinion. It’s very different how you want to be seen and how the audience wants to see you. MFF: You perform a lot of work to manage yourself on social media, which is measurably evident with the success you’ve seen within the arena. Was that something that simply came naturally to you, or was it something that you had to work at and develop over time? ML: It actually more or less just happened. Latinas are fashion, fitness is fashion, and social media is booming. I happened to be in the middle of it, and I played my cards right. MFF: We see that you show off a lot of Miami when it comes to your social media presence, and even in interview materials. Could you see yourself doing what you do in any other place and, if so, where? ML: Miami is a place everybody loves and where everyone wants to go. It’s a dream for most people, and therefore I love to show it off. I can see myself in other places, yes, but Miami suits me the best. MFF: In one of your interviews, it was stated that the first day in a gym with your mother changed your life and began your journey from a skinny seventeen year old, to the amazing figure that you have today. What about that day made the experience so great and influential towards shaping your future to what it is today? ML: Obviously, yes, but little did I know. I just wanted a bit more legs. Then, when I was in Italy with my husband and he was working, I had to do something. I loved the gains and the visible veins, and it just went on. MFF: You have an incredible amount of fans, both male and female. However, there are a ton of young women who look to you as an example of how they would like to appear physically and how they would live their life as philosophically. >>>
Did you have any female figures that inspired you during your journey, who were they, and how did they influence you? ML: I had Larissa Reis as my idol. In those days, 5 years ago, I really wanted a muscular body. As a Latina you want big legs and big glutes, and I thought it was really cool with big arms and in general big muscles. If it wasn’t for my husband, I would be in that size now. He made me look differently at the ideal female body, and I’ m really happy for that now. MFF: What is your favorite social media platform to work with when it comes to sharing your day to day life? ML: Snapchat. That is so for the moment. You can’t fake it. It’s there you can see who’s really worth following.
MFF: When you go to a fitness competition, who are your biggest competitors which inspire and push you the most when it comes to training and perfecting your body? ML: I stopped competing 1 year ago when they put me in last place with, sorry to say it, fat girls. It was their way to say “either you play the game or quit.” So I quit. It’s not a sport anymore; it’s all about who’s signed with who. MFF: Having accomplished so much in respect to your physical accomplishments, do you still set physical goals for yourself, and would you share one of them with us? ML: Still working on a tinier waist; it’s perfect in the morning since I sleep with the girdle. I want to make that smaller, and have bigger shoulders and bigger glutes. Those are details that I’m working on right now. >>>
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MFF: What is your biggest motivator when it comes to your mindset in the gym? ML: This is what I do, this is my job, and my fans are so hysterically nice to me so very seldom do I lack motivation. MFF: What is the most motivational music that we’ll find on your gym, or cardio, playlist? ML: House, like David Guetta and Calvin Harris. And at times Ozzy Osbourne and Rammstein. MFF: What do you and your husband do to ensure that you get the necessary down-time away from work? ML: We travel a lot, so we take at least a half day off wherever we go to explore the new place. MFF: You have had so many successes over the last few years within the United States, as well as in other parts of the world. What are your biggest pieces of advice you could give, when it comes to the next generation of fitness competitors, which would help them to avoid pitfalls and to achieve the same level success that you did? ML: Try to be inspirational, and not sexy. Who are you inspiring? Guys or girls? MFF: What is your favorite recreational activity to do that completely helps you to de-stress and melt away any issues or concerns that you’re having? ML: The beach, chill out music, cheat days, and lots of love.
Jimmy Lewin: Husband, Trainer, Manager, Motivator MFF: What was your first memorable experience which inspired you to become fitness focused? Jimmy Lewin: I have worked out since 1998, but mostly because I was living a really unhealthy
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life style with loads of booze and bad food. I was working out long before I met Michelle, but it wasn’t 100%. Maybe more like 70%. My interest for fitness really took off when Michelle started to gain interest. It wasn’t to compete with her; it just got more fun. So that’s when the real focus began. MFF: We’ve seen that you are heavily involved with the social media promotion of your wife, Michelle Lewin. What is the most amazing accomplishment that you’ve achieved from your use of social media as a marketing platform? JL: The most amazing accomplishment was to get to the top 111 of the biggest Instagram’s in the world. Due to technical problems we dropped 30 places but are slowly regaining. And not to mention when crowds goes crazy like its Lady Gaga entering. That’s plain amazing. MFF: You have an extremely well-proportioned build, amazing muscle tone, and very low body fat in every picture we see of you. What kind of diet and training regimen do you do day to day? JL: I don’t like to have a layer of fat; I feel uncomfortable. So every time that happens, it is low carb and cardio for a few days to get back to normal. I try to keep around 8%, and that’s for a very balanced card intake, with carb loading once per week. I train all muscle groups once per week, and calves and biceps twice. I go when Michelle goes and that happens often twice per day. When it’s that extreme, my whole body is sore every second or third day. So some weeks I have 3 days off from the gym. MFF: What are your favorite things to eat for a cheat meal, or a cheat day? JL: Since Michelle is more extreme than I am, she gets to decide where to go. Often it’s more food in overload than just plain bad food. She’s got this hang-up on Thai food, so she keeps dragging me to her favorite Thai food place where we hardly can walk out straight due to all food. However, I end the day with an insane chocolate intake to keep the cravings calm for a week. >>>
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MFF: We don’t see as big of a presence yet for you within social media as we do for your wife. Can we expect to see a lot more of you, and where should our readers go to find you most of the time? JL: I was very happy with Michelle as the star and me well hidden. I have no urge for the public life, and I don’t see myself as star quality. Michelle opened my Instagram and Snapchat. Apparently it has been well accepted, and I will keep doing what I do. But still, almost all of my energy goes into managing her. MFF: Who were your biggest influencers when it came to your own personal physical development goals? JL: I always admired Jay Cutler from the very start. Not because I wanted to become like him, but I thought he was pretty cool. And very happy that we now can call him a friend. Honestly, I was more looking at the girls in fitness magazines since I thought they were far more fun to look at. And many times, I would read how they work out and do the same. So I do have a lot of understanding for those guys who has Michelle as a role model.
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MFF: Does Michelle ever “flip the script” and become your trainer, promoter, or manager? JL: Only if I ask for it. Sometimes I come to the gym with no energy. Sometimes that is just to make you feel that you actually went. But I can say “train me” and so she does. And then I can’t slack, that would be embarrassing. MFF: What exercises do you perform which give you the greatest sense of accomplishment? JL: I don’t lift “heavy ass weights;” I care too much about my joints and my future for that. However, my pecs are my best asset, and I can go quite heavy there. And when they get all pumped up, I look huge. Needless to say, that’s a nice feeling. MFF: What is your own personal and perfect balance between cardiovascular and anabolic exercise? JL: I do very little cardio, and only if Michelle needs company. I haven’t been on the treadmill or stair master for at least 2 years now; I prefer a power walk around South Beach, Miami. When it comes to anabolic, I try to train so hard that I get sore, and I manage quite well.
MFF: Diet is obviously one of the most, if not the most, important aspect of achieving the most perfect body. Would you please list out your perfect day in regards to meals and what they would consist of? JL: It takes some time to figure out what works for your own body. My diet wouldn’t work as well for 90% or the rest of you. But I eat oatmeal in the morning, carbs before and after workouts and just a little, if any, carbs before bedtime. The only time I eat carbs before bed is if I do legs the morning after. MFF: You mentioned in an interview that you have to constantly remind Michelle to rest and recover. What is your favorite thing to do on an R&R day? JL: Get out of the house, get out of the gym, and just do something else. It can be just strolling around a mall, going to the beach, or meeting up with friends. MFF: What music gets your blood pumping when you’re in the gym or running outside? JL: I’m quite a hard rocker, but after experiencing Ultra Music Festival and 11 days in Ibiza, I listen a lot to radio stations like BPM and Flaix FM. MFF: When competing, or doing promotions, which part of the world is your favorite place to be for those activities? JL: There are so many places in the world and all of them has something, so I can’t say exactly where. But when we go to Latin or South American countries, the hysteria is intense and really fun.
MFF: What are your day to day supplements that you use to enhance your gain and to speed up your recovery? JL: I do take 4 to 5 protein shakes daily, with fast carbs after a workout. Also casein before bed time. It would be madness to be empty of proteins when you sleep and the recovery and gains are in progress. MFF: When you have a muscle injury, or even severe muscle soreness, what do you do in order to get yourself back to perfect condition again faster? JL: Well, that’s two completely different things that would be treated differently. When injured, the muscle must not be affected at all. If, for example, your triceps is hurt you must find a way to do chest without connecting triceps. There are many ways; just be careful. When it’s severe muscle soreness, there’s just one thing to do. Relax. That’s more important that many think, in order to recover.
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Sponsored Athlete, Fitness Model & Competitor
www.amyrozier.net Photo Credit: Sarah
Lyons | www.picturegroove.com
By: Denise Smith and Jason Cloninger
Sharp curves and a sweet southern personality are just a few of the ways to describe Figure Competitor and Fitness Model Amy Rozier. Hailing from Hattiesburg Mississippi, tucked away in the Deep South, less than 90 minutes from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.This self-proclaimed country girl and mother of two, loves the great outdoors, being on the water and spending time with family. Armed with a degree in Fashion Merchandising, Amy spent fifteen years pursuing a career in retail. Combining her love of travel, modeling, and physiques, she realized the potential for a career change. Deciding to leave her job behind she enlisted the help of a personal trainer and soon found herself in the best shape of her life. In addition to being featured in a number of prominent fitness magazines, Amy has won a host of Figure and Fitness competitions. First place in the South Ms. Classic Bodybuilding and Figure Show. While competing in her first FAME show, she came in second in Figure and third in Fitness at the FAME Lonestar. She has also won first place in Figure at the NPC Southern Classic. Meeting each new challenge with vigor, Amy has quickly made a name for herself and become an asset to the fitness industry. Sponsored by the team at Dymatize Nutrition, Amy has made a way of life for herself and her family eating clean and living healthy. Most spoke with the fitness talent about doing anything boys can do and why motivating people is so much more important than winning trophies.
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MFM: You graduated from college with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. Do you see yourself selling your own fitness brand in the future? If so, what do you think your brand would consist of? AR: I have always had a passion and love for the fashion industry. I was a buyer for 15 years at a high-end women’s boutique. After starting a family I decided to stay at home with the kids. I haven’t really thought about having my own fitness brand but it sounds like a great idea to me! The older my children get it might be something to seriously consider. MFM: There was a very short timeline from when you decided to compete as a fitness model and when you started placing at or near the top three of your division. To what do you attribute most of that rapid success to? AR: I would contribute my success in this industry first and foremost to having an awesome trainer! Along with him it takes hard work, determination and giving my all! Nothing comes easy and if you want to be successful you must work for it. I have always had that philosophy instilled in me. Another attribute to my success is making it a lifestyle and not just a “diet” that I was on for 12 weeks. My belief is it takes time to see results, but if it’s done the healthy way you can make it a way of life not just for yourself but for your family as well! MFM: What is your favorite part of training as a fitness model? AR: My favorite part of training as a fitness model is the way it makes you feel! I love seeing results which motivates me to push myself harder. I also love the fact that I can motivate others! In competing, I have realized that if I motivate one person that is more important than winning a trophy. Another favorite part of being in the fitness industry, is being sponsored by Dymatize Nutrition!
Being sponsored by a company that you love and products that you believe in 100% is a true blessing! I could not have asked to be a part of a better fit family! I am so thankful for all the wonderful opportunities that Dymatize Nutrition has given me! MFM: What is your least favorite aspect of training as a fitness model? AR: There is not much I do not like about training as a fitness model. I am just blessed to be doing what I love! If I had to think of one thing it would be, that people who don’t know me personally think that as a fitness model you are just perfect and have no bad days. I am just like anyone else. I have days when I don’t feel good about myself or don’t want to go to the gym! We are all human and thankfully my good days out weigh my bad days. MFM: We saw on Twitter that you had a fun day “off roading and gun shooting”. Do you consider yourself to be an outdoors kind of person, and what is your favorite outdoor activity to do? AR: I am very much an outdoor person! Being from the south, I am a true southern girl who likes anything outdoors. My favorite hobby is anything on the water including boating and paddle boarding! MFM: As a country southern girl do you find there obvious differences between a “country girl” fitness model and one that’s not, and can you give some examples? AR: Being from South Mississippi, I do consider myself a “country girl!” For me, the only obvious difference is that I am not one to have myself all dolled up at all times. If you see me on a daily basis I do not wear make-up and my hair is up in a ponytail! I also will get out and do anything the boys will do!
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MFM: When you are competing, you get to witness other competitors training or preparing themselves for competition or for stage. What are some aspects of preparedness or training that you’ve picked up on, or learned, from a fellow competitor? AR: One thing that I learned from other competitors in getting ready for a show is to have fun! I can remember one of my first shows I was so nervous and not that enjoyable to be around! I was so focused on getting a trophy that I missed that this was supposed to be fun. I would see girls backstage having so much fun and I realized that is was what I wanted. It made me realize that competing is fun and more about building friendships and motivating others than a trophy that no one will remember in 5 years! MFM: When you are training for a competition, what are your prime focuses when it comes to your training schedule and your diet? AR: When I am in competition prep, I set goals for myself. My primary focus during this time is to work towards reaching these goals. This goes for my training and my diet. It can be something as simple as building biceps a little to more complex goals of tweaking diet to get my lower body leaner. MFM: What extracurricular activities do you do which enhance your level of fitness or your physique? AR: As I stated before I love life on the water, and I love paddle boarding which is a great workout! I also take kickboxing twice a week which I have been doing for about 3 years now. Kickboxing is an awesome total body workout! I really feel that in contest prep it helps with my cardio. MFM: What are your favorite food ingredients to use when you are in the kitchen, and what are your favorite spices?
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AR: I am boring when it comes to cooking with spices! I guess eating clean for so long that my taste buds can’t handle anything too spicy! My favorite foods in the kitchen are fresh fruits and vegetables. MFM: What is your favorite healthy meal that you’ll eat while training? AR: One of my favorite clean meals is a spinach salad topped with grilled chicken, strawberries, Light Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing! Yummy! MFM: We’ve seen some pretty creative and impressive cheat meals from other fitness competitors, and actors like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. What is your most impressive cheat meal, and what is your favorite cheat meal menu item? AR: The last 4 years I have been working with Layne Norton for my nutrition plans. We count my macros and I have never really had “cheat
meals!” He is awesome, because this way of dieting I don’t feel as though I’m depriving myself. As long as I can make it fit into my numbers, I can have it! One thing I am hooked on at the moment that makes me feel like I’m cheating is Dymatize ISO 100 in Orange Dreamsicle mixed in a blender with ice, water, and fresh pineapple. Taste just like an Orange Julius...so good! Hard work and determination is what motivates this fitness talent. Their result has become her reward. Whether it is winning competitions, setting new goals, or motivating others, Amy loves what she does and how fitness makes her feel. According to the free online dictionary, success can be defined as, the achievement of something desired, planned or attempted. Having checked all the boxes, handily, Most has determined that when this southern charm, sets her mind to it, anything is possible.
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READERS Spotlight
Business Owner & NPC Bikini Athlete
www.MarieBFit.com Twitter.com/MarieBlanchard Instagram.com/haitianbeauty25 Facebook.com/marieblanchardfitness
Photo Credit:
Brian Landis www.landisphotographic.com
arie was born and raised in Port-au Prince, Haiti and moved to the United States in 1996. She eventually moved to PA and launched a small online business called scrappyscloset. com. While running Scrappy’s Closet, she attended the University of Houston for her certification in Petroleum Land Management. Soon she gained experience in the oil and gas industry and started her career as a Land Technician. In between school and work she began to notice a rapid weight gain, all from the lack of guidance and that’s when she knew she needed to make a lifestyle change by deciding to set a goal for herself. Soon she became a cast member of a TV Show called “Phitness” on Fox television and decided to launch Mariebfit with hopes to educate and guide others to live a healthier lifestyle. One of her goals is to earn her IFBB Pro Certification and compete in the Olympia.
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Sports Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, IFBB fitness Competitor, Fitness, Beauty and glamour Model
CateGarret.com Instagram: cate_garret Facebook: Cate Garret
By: Denise Smith
While her love for fashion continued to mature, she developed into a top competitor in all things athletic. Whether playing pick-up football with her brother or leading her softball team to the State Championship’s, she was able to prove her unmatched strength and drive. Growing up she was involved in athletics where “You’re only as good as the work that you put in.” She began competing in IFBB Fitness competitions and loved the competitive nature as well as the glamorous stage setting. Being on stage felt right for Caitlin, she loved everything about it. She began doing photo-shoots after her competitions and that’s where her career as a model began. As time passed, the fashion and fitness worlds seemed less separate. Cate gained certifications in both Nutrition and Personal training, all the while building experience in the Fashion Industry. First working with one of the top public relations companies in the nation, and then Camilla Frank, a world-renowned designer. The pinnacle of her experience came when she was invited to New York Fashion week, soaking in every lesson taught. Combining fitness and fashion has become a natural extension of who she is, above all, experienced and committed to both.
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Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
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Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
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MOST Magazine Quick Quiz 1. Favorite snack: A) Fitness Bars B) Popped Popcorn C) Light Beer D) Others Answer: Fitness bars of course! These little guys can be packed and taken anywhere, I always have a few in my purse! 2. My favorite part of my body is: A) My abs. B) My legs C) My butt D) Others Answer: My legs, so far they seem to have a great since of direction ;) 3. Shameless beauty tips: Answer: I see my facialist every two weeks, and wear a face mask almost every night! We only get one pair of skin so I make sure to over pamper it :) 4. Your body secret: A) Live like you’re in holiday each day B) Avoid Sun C) Target your toning D) Others Answer: I hit the stairs almost every day! Hop on the stair stepper ladies, it not only is killer cardio but will build your glutes at the same time, why not kill two birds with one stone?
Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
5. Look for my upcoming projects , website or social media addresses Answer: Like to get to know me a little bit better? Make sure to check out my website CateGarret. com to stay tuned on all my upcoming projects, photoshoots as well as competitions! Instagram: cate_garret Facebook: Cate Garret
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Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
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Personal Trainer & WBFF Pro Fitness Model
instagram.com/veenstar1/?hl=en www.facebook.com/.../Ashley-Veenstra-WBFF-PRO
By: Denise Smith
For the first year after she graduated in 2005, she worked for an oil and gas company working on land reports and performing book keeping. She then decided to travel. She went to Europe to visit her Dutch relatives. Upon her return she began working at Goodlife Fitness. Ashley is a personal trainer and WBFF Pro Fitness Model. She is still at Goodlife Fitness. She has been there since 2007, for four and a half years she was the Fitness Manager. She now focuses on personal training because it gives her more time with her six year old son, Kaden. She began fitness modeling and competing after Kaden was born in 2009. For her first fitness show, she trained intensely for eight months, which set a pattern for the eight shows in three different federations that she has competed in. Through her training she has learned a lot about self discipline and the physical strength of her body. With her focused training she has placed well in every show. She has and continues to work hard. She says she is ready for the next level. She has earned her Pro status with the WBFF and went to Worlds for the first time this past August in Las Vegas. While she is proud of her hard work earning her WBFF Pro status, her greatest accomplishment is raising her son Kaden as a single parent. She purchased her first home when she was 24. Having a home for her and son is extremely rewarding to her.
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1.Favorite desert: A) Frozen yogurt B) Ice Cream C) Dark Chocolate D) Others Answer: D. Flapper Pie YUmYUm 2. My favorite part of my body is: A) My abs. B) My legs C) My butt D) Others Answer: Legs and Butt 3. Dare to share: Answer: That I grew up playing with boys doing adventurous boy stuff. Fitness shows have taught me to dress myself up as a woman. I actually am shy around a group of girls and can hang out very easily with a group of guys. My 3 closest friends are guys as we have similar hobbies and interest. 4. Best exercise to shape sexy Abs superfast: A) Tummy Tuck B) Bent-Knee Crunch C) Single-Leg Lift D) Others Answer: D. clean diet plan is key to abs!! Look for my upcoming projects , website or social media addresses Answer: Facebook Fanpage “Ashley Veenstra WBFF Pro” Or follow me on Instragram “Veenstar1” for results on a healthier lifestyle
Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
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Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
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Photo Credit: HMPhotography
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One-On-One With Nationally and Internationally Published Photographer
www.davidmoserphotography.com
By: Darcy Tharp
MFM: Can you tell us how you got started with photography? DM: My ex-wife was a model and I was able to attend many of her shoots with some of the best photographers in the country. One day I decided to give it a try, bought my first camera and lens and started shooting. It was mostly her and her friends at first, but I suppose I picked up a good deal of knowledge just by observing her past shoots and I advanced quickly. That was only 5 years ago. MFM: Are you a self-taught photographer? DM: Definitely self-taught, though I have had many friends who have provided some great advice over the years. This method has crossed over to the workshops I do both locally and around the country. Learn by doing but having someone right there to help with any problems or questions that come up. MFM: How do you describe your style? DM: I never really thought I had a style, but most everyone comments that they know an image is >>>
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mine before they ever see the watermark. I have glamour engrained in my head I suppose, but I pull from a variety of inspirations for the shoots I do. MFM: Why specialize in glamour/fitness photography? DM: Why not? Look around, most every image you come across whether on social media or traditional marketing methods seems to embrace these types of images. I always snuck the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to my room when I was a kid; life hasn’t changed much except that I’m behind the camera now. MFM: What is your favorite camera/lens combination? DM: I shoot Nikon and I absolutely love my 85mm 1.4 lens, but outdoors I stick to my 70-200mm VRII MFM: Where do you find your inspiration as a photographer? DM: All over really. I’m a very visual person, so images seem to stick in my brain and I pull them out when I’m in the right situation with the right model. Everything from Helmut Newton to Russell James. MFM: Do you think photographers need different skill set for each style of photography? DM: Each genre requires a different set of skills, but at the end of the day it is all about style and understanding light. Excelling in multiple styles allows you to flourish in the style of your choice no matter what the situation brings by the way of challenges. MFM: Do you prefer outdoor or studio shooting? DM: I definitely prefer shooting outdoors, but shooting indoors in upscale, luxury homes and venues is never a bad choice either. Studios help hone your lighting skills a bit, but in real life you rarely have that high degree of control. And after
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a few months of winter, I can’t stand being stuck inside anyway! MFM: How do you select your models? DM: Fortunately, most of them come to me. I don’t have one thing that I look for in a model, but great eyes are always must. “Model” is as much a verb as it is a noun, so one’s ability to “model” is highly important. I do really well with getting the emotions and looks out of the people I work with though. MFM: What tips can you give our aspiring models? DM: Practice, practice, practice... Just like anything in life that is skill related. You have to hone it every day. Social media can be a great tool >>>
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in seeing the work great photographers and great models produce for you to emulate. MFM: How much time you spend on post processing? DM: I’m a huge believer in getting it right in the camera. A few minutes on set can save hours behind the computer. I see so many photographers blasting a model with light and then trying to correct their mistakes by some Photoshop technique they learned on YouTube... It just always looks fake and unnatural. MFM: Where do you hope to go from here? DM: Photography was always meant to be a
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creative outlet for me, a way to get away from the competitiveness of everyday life. Of course, when you are competitive you tend to act that way in most everything you do... lol Media is changing dramatically, so I’m not sure what opportunities and goals lie ahead but I look forward to growing with the industry. MFM: How can MOST readers find you in social media? DM: My Facebook page is https://www. facebook.com/HMPhotography.David IG is @HMPhotography_69 and Twitter is @ HMPhotography69
By Yoga Instructor Crystal Milana www.crystalmilana.net
There is even yoga designed specifically for athletes, and Most Fitness Magazine was able to sit down in an interview with a man who has created a style of yoga and a way to incorporate yoga into an athletes training to better their game. Sid McNairy III, yoga instructor and owner of Sid Yoga Center, has been training athletes both on the field and in the yoga studio for over 20 years. He studied moving sports science and sports administration
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at Purdue University, and coached college football for twelve years. His next book coming out in 2016 is called Spirit of the Game and the Game is Life. We are also excited to announce that Sid McNairy will be running for President of the United States in 2024!! CM: Can you tell us your background working with athletes? Sid: My background starts out with my own athletic endeavors from the age of eight years old playing soccer, which I played in London and three other
learning instead of fighting for the position and when their opportunity came they were just ready.
countries. Then shifting to playing football in high school and through college, so sports have always been a part of my life. My soccer coach at eight years old would have us meditate, he was way ahead of the times and my football coach in high school would also have us meditate before games, for some reason that was the people that I seemed to attract in my life. So in college I learned more about meditation and when I was working on my master degree, my one teacher who happen to be an ex football player made me teach the whole class how to meditate. So mediation has always been a part of my upbringing and as I got into my coaching career I enjoyed watching Phil Jackson, coach of the Chicago Bears. He wrote a book called Sacred Hoops that was all about getting his players into the Zen philosophy, that he claimed would allow his players to let go of their egos and play together as a team. They were all super stars in their own right and this allowed them to drop the super stardom and gel as a team. So that began to mold my own coaching technique creating meditation around visualization and meditation to relax. It allowed my players to work together, support each other, hold each other accountable and lift each other up. Then it was always guys
CM: What is the connection with yoga and sports that you see now? Sid: The big connection is two modalities that you look at; one is the yoga practice, which breaks down into two parts. The first is to get someone revved up, to get the body open and ready to go perform which I call a pre game routine. Then there is the post game routine, which is the recovery after the game; to get you ready to go back in. When playing sports or lifting weights you are tearing the muscles all of the time and so there needs to be something to build them back up. Also, the whole asana practice; people need to create the flexibility to create longevity. Then there is the new realm I see taking place and that is the meditation of the mind, the mind part of the game. Walter Payton once said that the game is eighty percent mental and twenty percent physical, and so when your mind is open you have an opportunity to open your practice, the game or your performance level even more. The work that we are doing I call mind field meditation, if you look at it like a field it’s opening up the field so that you have the full ground to play on, if you only see in part of the field that’s the only part you can play with. CM: Through yoga, what can you bring forth in an athlete or team that is different then other yoga teachers? Sid: The number one thing is having played sports and coached football for so long, there is a mentality and there is a language and I feel many yogis miss that with the athlete. The other thing I do different for example is when I worked with Towson University we did twenty minutes of coaching their mind that supported the goal of >>>
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their coach. That is the relationship I have with coaches, we sit in the meeting room or war room as we called it and talk out where we are going and what does the commitment look like. What are we asking to do for the players for the next year so they can be champions? CM: How else can yoga help perfect an athletes sport? Sid: We talked about flexibility and it’s also alignment based. When someone is more flexible, you increase your range of motion. As you structure your alignment that equates to faster from point A to point B. Then it’s also the use of breath, the understanding of how breath can guide someone in practice and also refuel them in the mist of their competition.
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CM: What do you see in the future with yoga and athletes? Sid: I see more professional teams, colleges and even high schools creating departments that are strictly for mind development. It will not only increase their sport, it will make it safer because when the mind gets fatigued it won’t leave you. It will also help athletes to come off their sport and be able to transition. A football player; unless they are taught comes off the sport and is still very aggressive because that’s part of the game. So if they learn how to manage and be with that aggression then it’s no longer aggression anymore, it’s passion. So now as they come away from the game they have an opportunity to be the role model they were born to be.
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Owner Team A to Z and Ulbrich Fit
www.ulbrichfit.com IG @teamatoz Alyx @alyxulbrich
Photo Credit:
George Kontaxis www.georgekontaxis.com
By: Alyx Ulbrich
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Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
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WBFF Fitness Diva Competitor & Fitness Model
www.facebook.com/fitnessishaute Instagram @fitnessishaute twitter.com/fitnessishaute
By: Denise Smith
In 2013 she had major complications after a hysterectomy. She was unable to work out for most of 2013. She decided in 2014, at the age of 38, to finally do a bikini competition. With 12-week prep for her first competition she placed 3rd in the Masters Division with Musclemania. Later that year on eight week prep, at 39, she placed first in the WBFF Diva Fitness Masters Division.
Born in Galveston and adopted at 13 months old. She is one of 12 adopted children, 6 girls and 6 boys all of varying races (she is Costa Rican and African American) and half of her siblings have disabilities. She was raised in Texas but has also lived in Pacific Palisades, CA (West LA) and Boyton Beach, FL. She became overweight as a teen and struggled with her diet, nutrition and exercise. Within last four or five years she has really learned what works for her body regarding food and exercise. She says she likes her 40 year old body better than the one her 20 year old one. She typically prepares her food a couple times a week, prepping all the ingredients to make a meal so she is able to easily prepare her meals. She does not count calories or macros or measure any of her food. I don’t eat on a schedule. Gigi tries to balance each of her meals to include protein, fat and carbohydrates.
She is currently working on her next bikini for an upcoming competition and will start training soon. Gigi tries to stay in good shape during offseason so prep isn’t too difficult. Her nutrition stays almost the same year round with the exception of martinis when she is not in prep mode. Gigi had a competition coach for her first two compétitions. This time she will be her own coach. Eventually she wants to coach bikini competitors. She currently trains clients at their homes who are looking to loose a few inches and gain some muscle tone. She was in the high-end retail industry for several years. She left it to be able to travel with her husband. Most recently, she was able to go to Tel Aviv, Israel and London. When she travels Gigi write my clients’ workouts and make videos of the different exercises so they don’t get off track. In addition to being in this magazine, she will be featured in the First Edition of the 2016 PictureGroove Calendar. www.facebook.com/fitnessishaute Instagram @fitnessishaute
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Photo Credit: George Kontaxis | www.georgekontaxis.com
1. I’m totally addicted to: A) Chocolate B) Social Media C) Exercising D) Others Answer: Shoes!!!! I typically decide what to wear based on what pair of shoes I want to wear. 2. My favorite part of my body is: A) My abs. B) My legs C) My butt D) Others Answer: A) My abs. One of the easiest things for me! 3. Your 5 genius beauty tips: Answer: 1. I dab a little coconut oil after blowing my hair out to smooth the ends. 2. Your eyebrows are a key element to your face; every gal should have a brow pencil and know how to use it. My favorite is by Dior and it’s a color that works for
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everyone (universal brown). 3. Dry brush after showering (BEFORE applying lotion) to keep skin baby soft from head to toe. This also helps with cellulite when done regularly. 4. Raw apple cider vinegar makes a great toner for your face (just dilute with a little water)--balances the pH. Drink a tablespoon or two in lukewarm water with a little lemon to boost your energy and immune system. 5. Sleep, hydration, healthy eating and exercise will help keep you looking and feeling young. 4. The best fitness advice I ever got was: Answer: Find a form of exercise you enjoy so it’s something you look forward to doing. Look for my upcoming projects, website or social media addresses Answer: IG@fitnessishaute Facebook: Fitness is Haute and Gigi Gambal
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