“America’s Top Ten Fitness Models 2016” is the big feature in Riche Magazine’s July 22nd issue! You can get your copy of this publication by clicking here:
https://www.joomag.com/…/riche-magazine…/0763834001469056114
Guess who took the #1 spot? Drumroll please…
I am so blessed and grateful for this honor! Thank you Alex Deal and RHK Publications!
If you are suffering from enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles, or brown discoloration on your skin from sun exposure, you may want to consider having a chemical peel. Medical grade peels are more robust than self-application kits, and produce more significant results. My favorite medium strength peel is the Perfect Derma Peel by Bella Medical Products. The Perfect Derma Peel is suitable for most skin types and consists of a powerful mixture of ingredients:
TCA
Kojic Acid
Retinoic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Phenol
Vitamin C
Glutathione
Please check out my video diary which details my personal experience using the Perfect Derma Peel. The results I achieved were fantastic! I had experienced such a dramatic improvement in the brown sun spots I had, that the concealer I was using for fifteen years was too dark for me! Gone were the stubborn brown splotches which served as the marks of too much time out in the sun.
I completely and enthusiastically endorse the Perfect Derma Peel. If you are in the Los Angeles area, click on the link here to book a peel with me: http://www.drstaceynaito.com/#!chemical-peels/comt
Both of my parents used to put me in front of cameras all the time, which largely explains why I am so comfortable in front of them. I am very much at ease before a still camera, and am usually fine in front of a moving one, even if I have to improvise or read cold. I have never really shied away from the camera lens like some people tend to do, and am usually happy to join in a group picture when asked to do so.
All bets are off when I have to take a selfie. I have stubbornly remained on the Android boat and refuse to cross over to the iPhone world, and as a result I have to deal with a camera which, quite frankly, sucks, especially when in selfie mode. I have an oval face, but my phone camera wants to make me look like I have a long, weird horse face! My phone camera is also completely incapable of capturing ideal lighting conditions. Since I want people to see me in my natural, everyday state, and am very reluctant to use filters on my social media posts, I realize that many of my social media posts which feature a selfie don’t exactly make me look my best.
As if that wasn’t enough to discourage me from taking selfies, I also don’t enjoy the process of looking at myself and trying to line up a picture. When someone else is photographing or filming me, I allow myself to relax and trust the person who is capturing my likeness. When I take selfies with my phone, I become easily and quickly bored with the activity. It’s not like me to spend massive amounts of time in front of a mirror, fussing and primping, so I certainly don’t enjoy spending additional time taking pictures of myself.
Here’s my M.O. for taking selfies: I think of a good setup for the shot, then I take between two and eight selfies. I know you selfie experts are probably horrified by the paltry amount of selfies I take, and are ready to tell me, “No wonder you don’t get good selfies!” I know that the most dedicated Instagram selfie takers will often take over a hundred versions of a selfie and sift through them to find the most flattering images, but I don’t have that kind of time!
I have spoken with branding people who say that it is worth taking time to snap the perfect selfie, but I have careers and a life outside of social media, and in that real world, time is money. If I don’t get my work done, I don’t get paid. And no one will have sympathy for me if I tell them I need a couple of hours each day to take the perfect batch of selfies. Since I also apply a five-minute face each day (concealer, brow pencil, eyeliner, mascara, blush, translucent powder and lipstick…NO foundation, bronzer, eyeshadow, lipgloss for my daily look!), I am not prepping for selfies all the time.
Who else out there hates taking selfies? 
Here is a great shot by Vino Darius Calloway, taken on June 24th, 2016 on the Bonneville Salt Flats…I am SO blessed to be able to shoot with great photographers who also happen to be wonderful people!
Oh, to be a woman. We are blessed with goddess energy and are also capable of being strong and muscular while holding onto our femininity. But with our female distinction we also have hormonal fluctuations which can wreak havoc on our health and our moods. It can be a tricky thing to keep estrogen and progesterone levels balanced consistently, especially for those of us who compete. Estrogen imbalance can also bring about early menopause, premenstrual symptoms, menstrual irregularities, and skin issues.
Women who practice a healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and stress management have the best chance of keeping their hormones in balance throughout their cycles. Overly processed foods, especially refined sugars, should be avoided. Strength training is also an excellent way of regulating estrogen levels in the body. However, I realize that the majority of you who are reading this are already on board with clean eating and weight training, but may still struggle with mood swings, food cravings, menstrual irregularities, and menstrual cramps.
Here are some tips on how to combat mood swings and food cravings which may emerge each month. These supplements will not affect contest prep, and may actually equip you with the best chance of staying on track even during THAT time of the month.
MOOD SWINGS: I am a big fan of the B vitamins because they are proven to reduce stress and anxiety. In fact, I make sure that all of my patients who suffer from depression and anxiety take a B-complex supplement to regulate their mood. It is also a good idea to take magnesium glycinate to restore the magnesium that is depleted during times of stress. Start with 250 milligrams daily, then increase to three times daily with meals. If you get drowsy or have frequent bowel movements, decrease your dose down to once or twice per day.
FOOD CRAVINGS: One of the reasons why women tend to crave chocolate around that special time of the month is because they are often deficient in magnesium, which is found in high amounts in chocolate. For this reason, I suggest taking magnesium glycinate(as stated before) to normalize magnesium levels in the body. Dosage parameters are the same, but if you prefer, you can take magnesium for two weeks at a time, starting a week before your period and ending a week after you get your period.
Another great supplement to take for food cravings is alpha lipoic acid. Take 100 milligrams three times daily. If you really get slugged with strong food cravings before flow visits, add chromium picolinate (200 micrograms three times daily) and vanadyl sulfate (10 milligrams three times daily) to your regimen.
Men have it pretty easy when it comes to pool and beach attire. All they have to do is throw on a pair of swim trunks or board shorts, and they can hide underdeveloped quads or a case of no-ass-at-all without too much effort. Yes, men must display their chests and backs, but at least they don’t have to expose a wide expanse of skin during the summer.
It’s a completely different story with women. A standard bikini covers the strategic parts of a woman and, barring a wardrobe malfunction from a rogue wave or bold body movement, honors the rules of public decency. There are other bikinis, known as micro bikinis (they are also often referred to as dental floss bikinis), which leave very little to the imagination, and which only the most daring of women tend to wear. But let’s get back to the standard bikini, shall we?
A bikini still reveals everything about a woman’s shape, so she can’t hide any flaws. Unlike swim trunks which are loose enough to cover the groin, butt and thighs, a bikini nestles into all of a woman’s nooks and crannies and puts her entire body on full display. No wonder men are fans of bikini season! As if that isn’t enough, modern society has shamed women’s bodies for many decades and has enforced an ideal bikini body type which is intimidating to say the least. How many women can boast physiques which rival those of Sports Illustrated swimsuit models? That’s a lot of pressure. As a response to the newer perspective on women’s body image, Sports Illustrated boldly featured a plus size model on their 2016 Swimsuit issue, which ostensibly created controversy.
I understand the threat of wearing a bikini, because it doesn’t hide extra winter fluff, pregnancy battle scars, or lack of exercise. But I honestly don’t think a woman should EVER feel ashamed of her body, whether she is in shape or not. There are so many flattering suit cuts available these days that women of all shapes and sizes can find something that fits her particular proportions the best and makes her feel confident and great.
I love this GORGEOUS Ravish Sands suit, but it really needs to go, as it is a reminder for me of what I have decided to let go of, i.e., the world of competing. This is a custom made suit, and is perfect for the NPC or IFBB Bikini competitor who wants to be a golden goddess! The base of the suit is a hologram yellow, and the top and the front of the bottoms are heavily crystallized with Swarovski crystals. The gold and rhinestone chain connectors are flirty and sexy, and gently drape around and under the hips.
I paid $500 to have this suit made, and wore it on the IFBB Pro stage at two events in 2014. The suit is in fantastic condition, with no missing crystals or signs of wear, and there is only a minimal amount of staining on the inside of the suit from competition spray tan.
This suit will fit a 34 to 36 C or D cup, and the bottoms will fit a 34 to 35 inch hip. For reference, I am 5’5″, and I competed in this suit at 119 lbs., with 34-24-34 dimensions.
I am now willing to let go of this suit for $165 which includes shipping.
Please message me at stacey@staceynaito.com if you are interested. Serious inquiries only. I really want this beautiful suit to go to a good home!
Ordinarily I don’t like pink at all, but this bikini by Katrinas.com just popped on my skin. This beautiful image was shot by the talented Chaz of Chaz Photographics.
For more great designs by Katrina, check out her website at: http://katrinas.com/
First Place Masters Bikini 35+ B Class, Team Universe, July 2013
Whenever I hear that question now, I have mixed feelings, which range from a sense of longing for the stage, to complete relief that I have not stepped onto a bodybuilding stage for close to two years now. My short answer to the question, “Do you still compete?” is “Probably not.”
Though I competed in four Pro Bikini events, I was struggling so much with metabolic damage and perimenopause that I often think it wasn’t the best idea to jump onto the Pro stage only 4 months after I won my IFBB Pro Card. That sort of strategy might work for a twenty-something competitor who is at the top of the heap, but it didn’t work for my 47-year old body which had been beaten down physically, emotionally, and mentally. I honestly needed a break, but I pushed through, and as a result had ho-hum placings.
It has taken over three years for my body to return to a level of leanness which I feel comfortable with. I know you might assume that I was in a massive spiral with my weight and body fat, but it wasn’t THAT bad, at least not compared with many other competitors who spiral. Nevertheless, I spent over two years with excess fluff that I was not accustomed to at all, and I couldn’t stand how I looked or felt.
Here’s the breakdown of my stats throughout the years:
From age 21 through 43: Between 104-109 lbs., 11-13% body fat
2010 – Age 44: 112-113 lbs., 12% body fat
2011 – Age 45: 114 lbs., 12% body fat
2012 – Age 46: 115 lbs., 12% body fat
2013 – Age 47: FIRST HALF OF YEAR: 117 lbs., 11% body fat SECOND HALF OF YEAR: 119-126 lbs., 13-18% body fat
2014 – Age 48: 121-125 lbs., 14-18% body fat
2015 – Age 49: 119-123 lbs., 12-15% body fat
2016 – (soon to be 50): 115-119 lbs., 11-13% body fat
It has been a veritable see-saw for me over the years. I also firmly believe that I would not have gone through menopause as early as I have if it had not been for all the metabolic insults I made to my poor body as a result of competing. Since 2013, I have investigated every possible cause for the water retention issues which rather suddenly hit me. This year I have FINALLY been able to rid myself of the excess fluid around my midsection, but somehow that was at the cost of the fullness in my glutes which I had worked so tirelessly to achieve during the years in which I competed.
If you ask me what my plans are for competing, don’t be surprised if I evade the question. I realize with each passing day that competing is no longer something which I rely on to define who I am. I have paid my dues and proven my worth, and though I completely understand why people have a drive to compete, I am no longer chomping at the bit to throw on a ridiculously expensive, blingy bikini and stripper heels and put myself at the mercy of a panel of judges.
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