How did you get started with bodybuilding balance?

My fitness journey started at an early age where you would find a shy little girl mucking around on my parents farm! When I was not spending the afternoons riding horses (my other love!) and helping my Dad with chores I would be found at my second home, the ice rink!  I started figure skating when I was 6 years old and had the amazing opportunity of skating as a single competitor and as well on a Synchronized competitive team competing at four Canadian Championships! While most kids were hanging out at pools and malls during the summer months, I was fortunate to spend my time at one of the most exclusive skating clubs in the country. To fill up any extra free time, I also played field hockey, ran track and played University rugby.  It was a busy schedule; however, I would never take a minute of it back because it has truly transformed me into the person I am today.

Diana Chaloux Fitness Model

Here's a brief interview and some pictures of Diana Chaloux Fitness Model.
My name is Diana Chaloux. I'm a fitness model, NPC national level figure competitor, certified personal trainer, fitness coach, fitness columnist, nutrition manager and founder/owner of Destined 2 Be Fit d2bfit.com
I love every aspect of the fitness industry, from modeling and competing to training clients one on one and teaching them how to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle! Via my business website I sell my fitness DVD "Fitness Deadlines" along with access to the D2BFit Member Support Center where I work with people online providing them with guidance, motivation and a fitness education!

Stats: Height: 5'7" / Age: 29 / Bust: 36 / Waist: 27 / Hips: 36 / Eyes: Brown / Hair: Brown
Diana diana@dianachaloux.com

Workout Without Weights For Maximum Fitness

Bodyweight exercises like the pushup, pullup, dip, plank and even sit up, are some of the most effective exercises on the planet.  When you workout without weights, you follow your body’s own unique range of motion, which can more effectively isolate and stimulate the intended muscle group and will actually help to prevent injuries.
I refer to bodyweight exercises as “real life lifting”… In other words; these are exercises which will benefit movements and activities that you conduct on a regular basis.

Many seasoned fitness enthusiasts kind of forget that it’s actually possible to workout without weights and it’s really something that even advanced lifters should revisit, as they will achieve even better results than they are now.

You see, when you’re performing an exercise like the pullup, pushup and dip… as you’re propelling your body up and down, it requires that you not only exert force to get your body up and resist as you lower back down, but you’re calling on all of the smaller muscles that usually lay more dormant during more modern exercises.
These smaller balancing muscles are known as stabilizer or balancing muscles.  You have synergist muscles which assist the larger muscles during exercise movement and you also have antagonist muscles which oppose movement, but even these are helpful as they act as brakes when your body is swinging during tough exercise movements.
Think about the pushup movement; your body is suspended on your fully extended arms and on your tip toes.  This position is going to require that your core muscles stay rigid during movement or you would collapse.
When you compare the pushup to the modern day bench press exercise, you’ll quickly realize that most of your body is supported during movement and this support will inhibit your core muscles from becoming engaged.
When you pullup, you must prevent your body from swinging back and forth as you pull and lower.  Compare the pullup to the modern day at pulldown and once again, you’ll realize that during the lat pulldown exercise, your legs are secure under a thigh support and swinging becomes non-existent.
You may think this is good, but it’s only inhibiting those primary back muscles and secondary arm and core muscles from being activated.

NJ Personal Trainer

Danielle Fryer, RD
Registered Dietitian (RD) and Certified Personal Trainer

Looking for a Hunterdon County personal trainer? Danielle at Metamorphosis Fitness and Nutrition Studio is ready to help you evolve into your best body yet! Danielle is a personal trainer and dietitian who builds a program around your personal needs. This isn’t a one program fits all studio- this is a personalized program that is made specifically for your goals and needs.
Danielle Fryer is a Registered Dietitian and Elite Personal Trainer. You’ll find her studio in High Bridge, NJ.  With over 14 years of experience and clients getting, Danielle can help you reach your goals. Want to lose weight, firm up, choose a healthier lifestyle?
She offers:

• Nutrition
• Weight loss
• Behavior Modification
• Weight Training
• Cardiovascular Training
• Triathlon training
• Physical Rehabilitation
• Wellness
• Personalized goals…plus so much more

Personal Fitness Trainer Certification

 

Train for a rewarding career as a personal fitness trainer at home.

For people who are passionate about staying fit and active and enthusiastic about helping others to do the same, personal training is an exciting--and potentially lucrative--career. Jobs for fitness workers are growing at a much faster than average rate, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with fitness worker jobs expected to grow by 29 percent from 2008 to 2018. Online personal fitness trainer certification is a convenient option for many aspiring fitness trainers.

1. Benefits

   • If you already have a full-time job and are hoping to make a career switch to personal fitness training, an online personal trainer certification might best fit your schedule. If you live in a more rural area, it might not be easy or feasible for you to commute to a distant major city to fulfill the class or workshop requirements of a more traditional personal fitness trainer certification program.

   Organizations

   • There are a number of respected personal fitness trainer certification organizations offering the option of online study.
     The National Federation of Professional Trainers offers a home-study option through which students can download all study materials to their computer and then prepare for the NFPT certification exam at their own pace. Educational modules are "unlocked" as the student successfully completes the preceding module. Candidates will have to travel to one of the NFPT's locations just once to take the certification exam. Testing centers are available in over 300 locations.
     The American Fitness Training of Athletics personal trainer certification program can be completed entirely online. Students have a full year to complete the program starting from the time of enrollment. Students can choose to take a proctored exam at one of AFTA's many testing sites, or they may choose to take an online exam at home.
     Students can choose to take the International Sports Sciences Association's personal trainer certification through online distance learning. The study materials, practice tests and quizzes as well as the final certifying exam can all be completed online.

   Features

   • Online personal fitness trainer certification programs typically cover both practical, applied knowledge areas--fitness assessment, exercise program design, nutrition and safety--as well as the more clinical scientific principles behind exercise science--physiology, biomechanics and kinesiology. Some courses will also touch on the business aspects of personal fitness training to help prepare trainers who plan to work independently rather than for a gym. Exams are generally in the multiple-choice and true/false format. Some may also have written components and include questions that correlate to a video demonstration.

   Considerations

   • Success in an online personal fitness trainer certification program requires an aspiring trainer to keep himself on track. Careful and realistic planning and scheduling will help ensure that the future trainer completes his program in a timely manner. Since trainers don't have face-to-face access to instructors the way they would in a class or workshop setting, it's important to seek help if a concept isn't making sense. Trainers should not assume that an online certification will be "easier." In many cases distance learning is actually harder work.

   Warning

   • There are hundreds if not thousands of online personal fitness trainer certifications, but not all of them are well-regarded in the industry or even legitimate. Certification programs that guarantee success on the exam or that allow candidates to take their exam online immediately--without taking any time to study or having to show proof of certain qualifications-- are best avoided. Some health clubs have their preferences in terms of certifications, so a personal fitness trainer who doesn't intend to start her own business might consider calling local gyms to inquire what certifications will open up the most job opportunities.

Personal Training and Building Your Physique

Getting a Beginner’s Education

All personal trainers have to start somewhere. The good news is that this means you can become a personal trainer even if you have no fitness experience and aren’t in great shape; all you need to do is put in lots of hard work.
Start preparing for a career in this field by independently educating yourself on fitness and training. Read books on the subject, watch training videos and take affordable, relevant classes online or at community colleges near you. Keep a journal of everything you do and learn, and review it regularly to keep things fresh in your mind. If possible, find a personal trainer in your area who is willing to give you advice and guidance. If you can establish such a relationship, you might be able to shadow that trainer on the job or even earn an internship, which would provide you with invaluable experience.

Exploring Specialties, Career Paths and Certification Programs

Because the personal fitness training industry is booming, many trainers are differentiating themselves from their peers by pursuing training specialties. There are dozens of in-demand specialties out there, including physical therapy for people with disabilities and chronic diseases, sports training, massage therapy and weight loss counseling. Research the possibilities and see if any specialties jump out at you as being particularly interesting or close to your heart. If you can choose the right specialty for you, make plans to pursue specialized certification in that area later.

Becoming Fit

Personal trainers don’t need to be hulked with muscle or among the fastest runners in the world, but they do need to be in good shape. Preparation for a career in this field requires that you maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and generally maintain good health habits. If you smoke, quit. If you’re a little behind where you should be in terms of fitness, work hard to catch up. If you need help getting there, hire your own personal trainer. Seeing the job from a student’s perspective will teach you a great deal, too.

Female Bodybuilding Workouts

 

Female bodybuilding workouts are a lot like the male kind. The primary difference is that while men are naturally stronger in their upper bodies, women have naturally stronger legs. This means that women have to concentrate on developing their upper bodies more than male.

Make sure you work alternating groups of muscles, as in chest/back.

Here are some exercises you can do to build muscle:

    * Good exercises for your back include: deadlift, lat pull-down, side lat raises, seated cable row and the bent-over barbell row.
    * For your chest you may want to include the incline bench press, decline press, bench press, dumbbell flyes and incline dumbbell flyes.
    * To work your legs, squats are one of the best exercises you can do. Don't forget the lunges either. You can also do leg presses, hamstring curls, deadlifts and calve raises.
    * For your biceps include incline curls, standing barbell curls, preacher curls, and concentration curls. To work your triceps do some overhead extensions, tricep curls, tricep press down and dips. You can do wrist curls to strengthen your forearms.
    * The military press, front and side arm raises, lat raises and shoulder shrugs are all great workouts for your shoulders.
    * There are a variety of crunches you can do for your abs, all which are great for strengthening your abdomen. You can also do leg lifts to strengthen those muscles.

Josephine Dalton -Trainer Fitness

Lift for Life Model of the Month, Josephine Dalton 
People are a lot like jigsaw puzzles, some more complex than others but each the collective sum of their parts. If you look at Lift for Life Model of the Month Josephine Dalton on the surface only, you will miss all the complexity that lies within.
Natural beauty is in and of itself a gift, but it is also a burden that carries with it the weight of assumptions that society places on attractive women. When an average woman and an attractive woman achieve similar degrees of success, the more attractive of the two will often be accused of having "slept her way there". Regardless of her ability, effort and dedication, the assumption will be that her looks gave her the advantage.
But beauty is also a thing to be cultivated and even natural beauty can use a little help. As such, Josephine began weight training in 1987 and quickly became addicted to the way her body responded. She learned that she could not only change her physique, but her life as well. Josephine joined the US Navy in 1992 serving until 1997 after which she attended Iowa State University for Pre-medicine and Exercise Science. In 2003 she became a personal trainer and has been competing since 2005.
Life is not without difficulty and perhaps it is not only how we cope with challenges that define who we are, but how we overcome them. Josephine experienced a period of prolonged depression beginning in the summer of 2001 which ultimately led to an attempted suicide while under the influence of prescription medication and alcohol. Grateful to have survived, Josephine is quick to state,
"The very fact that I survived my suicide attempt (and just so you know, it was not intentional.... chemically based. I had no clue at the time) is the #1 reason why I stay motivated. I thank God every day for my 2nd chance, and I strive to not take anything for granted anymore"

Though tragedy has the potential to break a person, it also holds within it the seeds of change. So it was that Josephine emerged from her own tragedy with an renewed appreciation of life

"To this very day, I can only thank God for his miraculous intervention and allowing me a second chance at life"

Within two weeks of her recovery, Josephine found the inner strength to walk away from an abusive relationship. Though both her nose and ankle had been broken in the exchange, her spirit was strangely renewed as she became awakened to the potential that lie within her. She was determined to regain her self esteem, she was determined to rebuild her life, and nothing, not even the lingering pain in her own body was going to stop her.
"2 months later (after an intense diet & exercise program that did not include cardio), I competed in Clark Bartram's very first show, the 2006 Golden State Championships (FAME at the time) and hobbled away with the Female fitness model Champion title. Granted, I was not in the best shape of my life or of the other competitors, but one thing is for sure, I was more happy to have been alive to make it there than to have won in the end."
Josephine continues to train, compete, model and inspire others. Though she claims to be too flawed to be anyone's role model, she does state

"everyone and anyone can identify with me in terms of overcoming one's own obstacles, hitting rock bottom then skyrocketing back up, embracing self love and a healthy & realistic relationship with one's health" Josephine Dalton

Personal note: If you are involved in an abusive relationship, don't wait for the other person to change, do what Josephine Dalton did and get out now. Many communities have shelters that can offer advice and assistance that can get you back on the path to independence. Never stop believing in yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Become A Fitness Model

A lot of people think that to become a fitness model is impossible unless you are blessed with a sexy body from a younger age. It is quite true because most models get started from the age no less than 20 years old. However, if you are fat and over 20, or even 30 years of age, you can still train and learn how to become a fitness model. It’s not a joke.

Thousands of regular people like you have done it before and I’m sure you can do it too. One of the perfect example of this is fitness model Jennifer Nicole Lee. She has overcome her biggest challenge after having 2 babies and lost over 70 pounds in as little as 3 months. She also became a fitness model and won many beauty contest as well. Her secrets is finding the motivation and force yourself to follow the healthier diet plans.
So what is the best diet program out there that you can follow? How can you find the right solution for your weight loss and learn how to become a fitness model?
I’m sure not all the weight loss program on the market are useless, but not all of them are effective for your body. However, the more important problems most people have is finding their goals and the right motivation for this journey. Whether you want to have a six pack abs, get a nice toned body, or become a fitness model, you need entertainment and encouragement as well.
If you have struggled for years but can’t manage to find the right diet and workout system, you need to know that 70% of your success comes from you. Don’t expect any magical pills or killer diet system to help you if you can’t follow it. Before doing any crunches or sit ups, take a deep breath and change your mindset about losing weight. Once you have the right mindset, everything else will be so much easier.
There are so many ways to become a fitness model today. Some suggest unhealthy supplements, some try cardio and small portion meals, some even try the colon irrigation or detox cleansing diet. No matter what program you choose, motivation plays an extremely crucial role in changing your life.
If you want to read more about Jennifer life changing story and how she got on Oprah and has motivated thousands of people like me and you to lose weight, check out the review. You can easily learn how to become a fitness model with Jennifer in as little as 3 months.

Fitness Females - Margi Faze

This gorgeous young lady is stay at home mom of three AND fitness model Margi Faze from Nevada.
Yes, you read that right...mother of three!
Every now and then I get to do an entry on one of these fitness beauties that is really inspirational, and this is one of those times.
Marge didn't start on her path of becoming a fitness model until she was thirty five.
And that was after her three kids were born.
I think this may be the first lady I have done a write up on here whose transformation story is so amazing that the Washington Times interviewed her about it.



Margi's goal wasn't to go into fitness modeling, or become a female fitness competitor.
She just wanted to get in shape.
But look at her now.
I would say that she more than succeeded.
She recently won her class at the Miss Bikini America contest and she won the Body for Life Grand Master Championship.


Margi is a perfect example that you can do anything you set your mind to.

If you want to keep up with this fitness beauty, you can check out her MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/margifaze
Her Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/MargiFaze
Or her Twitter:
http://twitter.com/SoBe919

Michiko Nishiwaki

Michiko Nishiwaki (Nishiwaki Michiko) , was born on November 21, 1957 in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan.
She is a former female bodybuilder, powerlifter, actress, fitness trainer, stunt woman, martial artist and fight choreographer.
Michiko started out, as a lot of fitness stars did, in gymnastics.
She looked into bodybuilding when she noticed how large her legs were when compared to her upper body, hoping that weightlifting would give her better symmetry.
Michiko became a powerlifter, Japan's first female powerlifting champion and eventually Japan's first female bodybuilding champion.
This was very unusual for a woman in Japanese society at that time.
She also opened three fitness clubs with her brother.
Michiko began her acting career in 1985 when she caught the eye of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. (How many careers has Jackie Chan launched?)
She appeared in his film "My Lucky Stars" a Hong Kong martial arts/comedy film as a Japanese fighter.
Michiko landed several roles in Hong Kong movies after that, usually playing a villain or a femme fatale.
After that, she returned to Japan, but then went to Thailand and made a few more films.
Eventually she landed in the US and began a career as a stunt woman appearing in a lot of movies you may have seen, but had no idea that she was in.
As a stunt woman she appeared in Blade, Man on the Moon, Charlie's Angels, Rush Hour 2, The Scorpion King, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Memoirs of a Geisha and Resident Evil: Extinction.
She also worked on 2009's Afro Ninja as Yuko.
Michiko has stunt doubled for Lucy Liu in four films and Kelly Hu in one.

Here she is in a clip from her first movie, "My Lucky Stars"...

Aline Oliveira - Fitness Model and Personal Trainer

This beautiful young lady is Brazilian athlete, fitness model and personal trainer, Aline Oliveira, from Rio de Janeiro.

I know I have mentioned "abs of steel" before, but check this out...

Contest History:

IFBB Estreantes Rio 2008 - 2nd Place
Champion South American Bodyfitness IFBB 2009
Brazilian Champion 2009 IFBB
Carioca overall champion IFBB 2009
World Cup (Italy) - 10th place

Here is a video of Aline Oliveira and Mara Blindada working out.

Shonda Lee

Beautiful figure competitor Shonda Lee is from Shreveport, Louisiana.
She's 5' 5" and weighs 121 ripped and lean pounds.

Contest History:
2008 NPC Southern Classic (MS) - 5th Place, Class C
2008 NPC Louisiana BB & Figure (LA) - 3rd Place, Medium Class
2008 NPC Nationals (GA) - 8th Place, Class C
2008 Bikini USA International (Mexico) - 7th place

IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern

IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern is from Wellington, Florida.
She's a fairly new face, but I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of her.
Before entering competition, she competed in track and field at the University of Florida. Her specialty was the high jump and hurdles.
When she's not competing, she works in the real estate industry.
Contest history :
2003 NPC, Gainesville
2008 NPC National Figure, won F class (over 5'7") and got her IFBB Pro Card.

This 5'8", 136 pound beauty can bench press 193 lbs, deadlift 230 lbs, and squat 230 lbs.

IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern

IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern is from Wellington, Florida.
She's a fairly new face, but I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot more of her.
Before entering competition, she competed in track and field at the University of Florida. Her specialty was the high jump and hurdles.
When she's not competing, she works in the real estate industry.
Contest history :
2003 NPC, Gainesville
2008 NPC National Figure, won F class (over 5'7") and got her IFBB Pro Card.

This 5'8", 136 pound beauty can bench press 193 lbs, deadlift 230 lbs, and squat 230 lbs.

Aline Oliveira - Fitness Model and Personal Trainer

This beautiful young lady is Brazilian athlete, fitness model and personal trainer, Aline Oliveira, from Rio de Janeiro.

I know I have mentioned "abs of steel" before, but check this out...

Contest History:

IFBB Estreantes Rio 2008 - 2nd Place
Champion South American Bodyfitness IFBB 2009
Brazilian Champion 2009 IFBB
Carioca overall champion IFBB 2009
World Cup (Italy) - 10th place

Here is a video of Aline Oliveira and Mara Blindada working out.


You can find out more about Aline at her Facebook page here:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Aline-Oliveira/100000513734384

Michiko Nishiwaki

Michiko Nishiwaki (Nishiwaki Michiko) , was born on November 21, 1957 in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan.
She is a former female bodybuilder, powerlifter, actress, fitness trainer, stunt woman, martial artist and fight choreographer.
Michiko started out, as a lot of fitness stars did, in gymnastics.
She looked into bodybuilding when she noticed how large her legs were when compared to her upper body, hoping that weightlifting would give her better symmetry.
Michiko became a powerlifter, Japan's first female powerlifting champion and eventually Japan's first female bodybuilding champion.
This was very unusual for a woman in Japanese society at that time.
She also opened three fitness clubs with her brother.
Michiko began her acting career in 1985 when she caught the eye of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. (How many careers has Jackie Chan launched?)
She appeared in his film "My Lucky Stars" a Hong Kong martial arts/comedy film as a Japanese fighter.
Michiko landed several roles in Hong Kong movies after that, usually playing a villain or a femme fatale.
After that, she returned to Japan, but then went to Thailand and made a few more films.
Eventually she landed in the US and began a career as a stunt woman appearing in a lot of movies you may have seen, but had no idea that she was in.
As a stunt woman she appeared in Blade, Man on the Moon, Charlie's Angels, Rush Hour 2, The Scorpion King, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Memoirs of a Geisha and Resident Evil: Extinction.
She also worked on 2009's Afro Ninja as Yuko.
Michiko has stunt doubled for Lucy Liu in four films and Kelly Hu in one.

Here she is in a clip from her first movie, "My Lucky Stars"...



You can find out even more about Michiko at her website here:
http://www.geocities.com/michikonishiwaki/index.html

Shonda Lee

Beautiful figure competitor Shonda Lee is from Shreveport, Louisiana.
She's 5' 5" and weighs 121 ripped and lean pounds.

Contest History:
2008 NPC Southern Classic (MS) - 5th Place, Class C
2008 NPC Louisiana BB & Figure (LA) - 3rd Place, Medium Class
2008 NPC Nationals (GA) - 8th Place, Class C
2008 Bikini USA International (Mexico) - 7th place

Shonda also does modeling and you can visit her Model Mayhem page here:
http://www.modelmayhem.com/729604

Liza Kampstra

The gorgeous Liza Kampstra is a knock out in more ways than one.
This young lady had to give up her first love soccer because of an injury.
But did that stop her?
Nope.
She began training with IFBB Pro Carla Sanchez and the Performance Ready Team and look at her now.
Now she's an IFBB Professional Fitness Athlete, Mom, MMA ring girl and model.
And she has started building a very impressive contest history.....

2007 NPC Gaspari Nutrition Jr. USA Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships, 12th place
2007 NPC Junior Nationals Bodybuilding, Fitness And Figure Contest, 5th place
2007 NPC Team Universe Bodybuilding, Fitness And Figure Championships, 11th place
2007 NPC USA Bodybuilding And Figure Championships, 8th place
2008 NPC Junior National Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships, 2nd place
2008 NPC Team Universe Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure National Championships, 2nd place

For more info and pics, you can visit Liza's website here:
http://www.lizakampstra.com/

MC Barao

This 5'4" 109 pound beauty was born in the Philippines and raised in Houston Texas.
She appears to be just starting out, with a website coming soon, http://www.mcbarao.com/
Maybe when the website is up I can get some more info.
I have no idea if she has been in any figure competitions, if she's a personal trainer (although I did read where she said she wanted to help people with their fitness goals) or anything like that.
MAYBE she'll stop by and enlighten us.