Many people ask how it is I stay motivated and what are some tips I can give them to do the same.  I have to say that one of my biggest motivations is you guys! For me, it’s a number of different things but a HUGE motivation for me is when I receive an email or a message on one of my sites saying that what I do, how I look, or how I train has motivated somebody else to want to change how they do things.

I find that another huge motivation for me is progress.  It is important for you to track your progress and you can do that however you want to.  Some people like to do it with weekly or bi-weekly pictures, some prefer to just write down notes on a routine basis, or you could even keep a journal…whatever works for you.  For me, once I start to see progress or change, no matter how big or small it is, that keeps me even more motivated to continue on the path that I have started!

Another way to stay motivated is to have images of what you would like to resemble, what you want certain parts of your body to look like, how you want your body to feel etc.  A way to do this is to create a motivation board or a goal board.  Whether you choose to set this up on your fridge, your kitchen wall, your bedroom wall…that’s all up to you  To keep up motivation, put up pictures from magazines that you read in regards to who your role models may be – you may see certain exercises that depict a muscle (such as abs) that you would like to try to reach.   You can also just put up images, pictures, or cutouts of anything that reminds you of what you are doing, of where you want to be, and how you want to make it there!  It could be something that means absolutely nothing to anybody else – but that picture or image makes you smile and makes you remember the goals you are trying to reach!

I want to emphasize this point as well…it is wonderful to have role models, to have people that you would like to resemble - but remember to be happy with you and always still want to be you!!! Every single one of us is different. We have different genes and different shapes and sizes.  My biggest advice is to work with what you have to the best of your ability and keep motivating yourself with these positive steps forward. It is absolutely great to have role models or people that you look to to be like (not just because of what they look like but because of what they represent as a person), but never let yourself take away from wanting to be you because you would rather be somebody else.

I hope this has given you all a few tips as to how to stay motivated.  Always remember that you all have been a huge motivation for me and in turn I hope to do the same for you!!!  Keep pushing – you all are doing amazing!!!

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“What advice can you give me, I want to start fitness modeling?”  I receive this question many times and there are a number of different things you can do, depending on where you are at the moment, what you are looking to do, what you have done already, etc.  BUT the one piece of advice that I can give and that I myself still always do is NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.  Is it exciting? Most of the time, no Do you need to put in your time and follow-up frequently? Absolutely.

You need to view yourself as a business, it’s a job.  If you were to work in an office, or run your own business you would be doing the exact same thing…you have to get leads, follow-up with possible interests, contact people to let them know you exist, put yourself in the proper environment.  These things are all true of fitness modeling as well.

For beginners, one of the best things you can do is go to expos and shows.  Although you may not be interested in the competing side of things the fitness expos that are involved with the bigger shows are key.  Three of the best ones that I feel should be attended are the Olympia, the Arnold and also possibly the LA Expo.  The Arnold is the biggest expo of them all,  it encompasses three days and almost every photographer is at this expo at some point during that time.  The expo is also filled with all of the major and quite a few smaller supplement companies, clothing companies, and other fitness related product companies.   Not only are the photographers there but the magazines are there as well.  If you plan on attending an expo be prepared!! Have business cards with all of your contact information on them (there are a number of companies out there that can prepare these at a very reasonable cost or you can even make them yourself on your own computer!).  Also have a few select images printed in 8×10′s that you can leave along with your card.  Make sure to select ones that show diversity and that are of course, most flattering.

Now, some of you may not have images – get them!! Yes, you most likely will have to pay for your first photo shoot or your first few photo shoots but you need quality images.  Do you need to spend thousands or get tons of pictures done? No…but you need something professional to hand out to people and something that captures you and your physique and hard work in the best light possible.

The other key piece to the networking puzzle is the computer!! Get online, start going through Facebook, Twitter, magazine sites, forums…places that you can find contact information and if you can’t find contact information there is usually always a general email.  Take this general email and contact them and explain who you are looking for and can they please point you in the right direction.  You may send out 20 emails and only get back a few or get back one, but it’s a start!

Another networking move is go into fitness, modeling, bodybuilding, and/or supplement forums.  Read the threads, see if anybody has useful information regarding anything, maybe somebody with a connection to something has left an interesting thread….you never know!  Also if you browse the fitness magazine websites more than likely they have a direct Facebook and/or Twitter link.  Go to these links and leave your own page for them to view along with an email that has your photos, tell them what you’re interested in and be confident in your presentation!!

This career does not happen overnight!!  Even if you think of somebody and think it seems that way, it seems that in the blink of an eye all of a sudden her name became huge….more than likely that’s not how it happened!!  You are just not aware of the amount of work that went into it all beforehand!!

Hope this helps all of you aspiring fitness models out there!!! Remember, do the work, be prepared and be confident… YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!  This career is a constant work in progress, I know I’m always working and trying to do more so be positive and stay focused!!!!

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One of the top questions I get asked is “What type of cardio should I be doing?”.  I believe, as I do with the type of training routine a person needs and diet, that you need to gear your cardio to your goals.  I also believe in changing it up and not sticking with the same exact routine day in and day out.

Much like you need to shock your muscles when weight training, you also need to shock your body with cardio.  Change up your cardio so your body stays guessing, stays surprised and does not grow accustomed to the same thing over and over.  As you will notice when your body gets used to something…there is no change!!!

Let me also specify something before I continue…I am not talking about prep for a show.  When I prep for a show my cardio stays pretty much the same but that is due to the great change in diet as the weeks progress, the rotation and depletion of certain foods and the usual lack of energy and stamina as you approach closer to your show.

Most people that are asking are not in competition mode Most people asking are ones trying to see changes in their body and/or wanting to shed extra pounds.  I do HIIT (high intensity interval training), I also do standard cardio on the treadmill, elliptical, bike and change up the speed, resistance, etc. depending on what I am training for. I find that what works best for me for a shoot is not what I would do for a show.  Due to length of time that I may have to prep for each situation and what kind of look I need to have going in to a shoot as opposed to a show, determines my cardio.    Also where my starting point is, what I look like at that exact time that I find out I have something coming up also determines my cardio.

Another big tip that I give to many people who ask is experiment!!!  Do not be afraid to experiment and find out what works best with YOUR body!! There is no rule or rulebook that says you HAVE to do this, you CAN’T do that and if you don’t, it won’t work!!  My best advice is to work with one type for a set amount of time and then switch it up.  You may also hate a certain kind of cardio and if that is going to keep you from doing it altogether then don’t do that kind!

I will end with this….cardio, what ever form you choose to work with, monitor your results, monitor your body and continually strive for change.  Change brings results!!!!

Have fun ladies!!!!

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What if hard work was actually fun? Just imagine how much more of it you would choose to do, and how much additional value you would create.

What if tedious work was actually fulfilling? Just think of how many more great things you could accomplish!

Imagine that some person or some group wanted to hold you back and keep you from being your very best. What would be a good way of dealing with that? I’ve got some personal experience with this one.  One extremely effective way to hold millions of people back would be to spread the assumption that difficult, challenging work is to be avoided. That being the case, is it really an assumption you want to willingly hold on to?

What’s fun, and satisfying, and fulfilling for you, is whatever you decide is fun, satisfying and fulfilling. If you so choose, that can include intense, difficult, challenging and even tedious work that creates great value. Once again I’ll ask you if you read your written goals this morning?

Are you being held back by your assumptions about what is enjoyable and fulfilling, and what is not? You’re free to change those assumptions any time you choose? As I’ve said dozens of times in the past, it’s already yours, now go get it!!

Have a GREAT day!!

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• What Keeps You Motivated?
• NETWORK: One Of The Best Pieces Of Advice For An Aspiring Fitness Model
• What type of cardio should I do?