These images were taken by Dan Ray during the NPC Metropolitan in April of 2013. The NPC Met was the last amateur regional competition I took part in before I went off to NPC Team Universe and attained IFBB Professional status.
Tag bodybuilding
Personal Fitness Training Is 90% Motivation
I will never discount the value of a skilled fitness trainer, because I know the importance of having a strong foundation of knowledge in exercise principles and the ability to demonstrate proper form on exercises. However, all trainers must develop the ability to motivate their clients if they are to maintain a certain level of success in taking their clients to the next level and helping them to ultimately reach fitness goals.
I have to laugh when I see trainers who are basically just really good at counting when they are with their clients. One trainer I know of spends the entire session time blabbing on and on about all of his personal business, never instructing his clients, putting them on no-brainer machines, then interrupting his boring personal stories to count out reps. IMMEDIATELY after the client is done with a set, the trainer continues with his story! This has occurred, without fail, every single time I have been near him when he was at the gym training a client. In addition, he is seriously overweight! At least he recently began working out at the gym from time to time (not consistently), because he went for years without training at that gym, and it definitely showed. It blows my mind that he even has clients, because he does absolutely nothing whatsoever to motivate them. In addition, his clients NEVER transform. His physique doesn’t transform either. Sorry, but no trainer should look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.
A trainer should be a cheerleader for clients, encouraging, motivating and challenging them. It isn’t enough to hold clients accountable for showing up for training sessions. Great trainers motivate clients to continue with consistent healthy choices both in and out of the gym. Great trainers also lead by example, and focus on their clients instead of wasting energy during a training session by talking about themselves. Whenever I am training a client and the client asks me personal questions, my answers are brief and punctuated with, “I’ll tell you more after the training session is over”. How can I expect my clients to focus on their workout routines if I spend time gossiping about my personal life? I honestly think that there should be a veil of mystery when it comes to a trainer’s personal life in order to preserve the trainer-client relationship. Though the trainer-client rapport is very important, I firmly believe that the focus should ALWAYS be on the client. After all, the client is the one paying for the expertise of the trainer, and deserves to be the center of attention for the 55 minutes allotted.
Training For Life – REPOST
I think this article is worth reposting, because I have been asked recently by a number of people what I am training for. Though I am not training for an IFBB Pro Bikini contest right now, I am ALWAYS training. I honestly do train for life! Read on to see what I discussed in my original post.
Over the past few weeks I have heard a few competitors state that they plan to completely stop weight training for a few weeks because they are burnt out on prepping for competitions. While I agree that taking some time off can be a good thing, taking several weeks off seems like complete madness to me. Though I get a kick out of people who have this on-again, off-again attitude with respect to training, I am more disturbed than amused by such an attitude because it is in stark opposition to my attitude towards training.
My attitude towards training stems from the fact that I train for life, not for the stage per se. I increase the number of workouts before a big contest, but I never hang up my training hat for more than a couple of days at a time. Why? Because I truly love training, and I strive to remain consistent with my conditioning. I also ensure that I will be shoot ready whenever the need arises. I have had last minute calls to shoot and never have to worry that I will not be camera worthy.
It blows my mind how many people have asked me if I plan to stop training now that I have earned my IFBB Pro Card. I didn’t train hard to get my Pro Card just so I could let it all go to mush! If anything, I have even more reason to uphold the level of conditioning which has taken years for me to achieve. You won’t see me avoiding the gym or eating tons of bad foods, because I have every intention of honoring the status I have earned. It’s back to the gym for me!
Two Purple Bikini Images – Shot By B-House Photography
Here’s a throwback to December 2012 from a great photo shoot with B-House Photography. We got some great images, but the ones in this purple bikini are my favorite. What do you think?
Playlist Link To All 30 Glute Videos For RxGirl
Ian Lauer and I had a great time putting together three glute video series for RxGirl from 2012 through 2014. Now you can enjoy all the videos in all three series by clicking on the link below. Each video features an exercise which targets the glutes.
Check them out!
MAW Nutrition Update!
MAW Nutrition Inc. now has meals available! You can select 3, 4, 6, 8, or 10 ounce portions of cooked chicken, then customize the rest of the meal by choosing any one of the carb sources, and any one of the vegetable sources.
Check it out here: http://www.mawnutritioninc.com/category-s/1866.htm
As always, you can order a la carte selections as well. Be sure to use my discount code, NAITO10, for 10% off your order!
Who’s Going To Nationals? Ravish Sands Suit For Sale!
I have an absolutely GORGEOUS gold/yellow Ravish Sands competition bikini up for sale. The reason why I am selling this suit is because I just don’t need three suits. I will never get rid of the tangerine suit in which I won my Pro Card, and I have one other suit I am hanging onto, but which I may sell as well, since I think my competing days may be over. This suit is in excellent condition, and has only been worn at two Pro contests.
The top can fit a small D cup, but I think a B or C cup would be better for this suit. The bottoms fit a 34 inch hip measurement. For reference, I am 5’5″, 119 pounds. The top and the front of the suit bottoms feature dense crystallization with Swarovski bubble crystals in gold, which looks amazing onstage! Originally paid $500 for this beauty.
PRICE: $275
(Does not include shipping)
Please message me if you are interested. This would look STUNNING on the National stage!
A Little Black Hologram Dress And Flying Sparks
Image by B-House Photography. All rights reserved.
Ashley Kaltwasser Wins Nordic Pro: Record 14 IFBB Bikini Pro Wins!
Original post can be found at:
http://npcnewsonline.com/ashley-kaltwasser-wins-nordic-pro-record-14-ifbb-bikini-pro-wins/227266/
This girl is unstoppable! She has 14 IFBB Bikini Pro wins now, getting the most recent one at the Nordic Pro yesterday. I am so thrilled for her, because she is definitely most deserving of all her titles. Go, Ashley, go!
Here are her Pro wins:
Ashley’s 14 IFBB Bikini Contest Wins.
1. 2015 IFBB Nordic Pro
2. 2015 IFBB Olympia
3. 2015 Arnold Sports Festival
4. 2014 IFBB Russia Pro
5. 2014 IFBB Korea
6. 2014 IFBB Olympia
7. 2014 Toronto Pro Supershow
8. 2014 New Zealand Pro
9. 2014 IFBB Australia Pro Grand Prix XLV
10. 2014 IFBB Arnold Classic
11. 2013 IFBB Sheru Classic
12. 2013 IFBB Olympia
13. 2013 IFBB Toronto Pro Supershow
14. 2013 IFBB Powerhouse Pro
Uncompromised
Breaking stereotypes!
I am always being challenged to pick one career that defines me, and it drives me nuts. When people find out that I am a medical doctor, they struggle with the stereotype of what they expect doctors to be like, in other words, very conservative in dress and demeanor, and without any flavor or personality. Well, I’ve got news for you. I will NEVER be a typical doctor. And please don’t doubt my credentials or schooling. I am NOT a nurse (not that there is anything wrong with this highly respected profession), I am a fully licensed and board certified physician.
A huge project came my way recently, and I was selected for it, only to have the decision-maker flip out over my fitness and modeling images and reverse the decision. I was stunned and dejected, but after reflecting on the whole incident, I began to get angry. Part of the problem was that the decision-maker was a complete hypocrite, pretending to be squeaky clean, but who openly praised one of the dirtiest human beings to ever alight on the entertainment scene. To coin an analogy, at the root of this was a case of the bride being upstaged by another lady wearing white. Mind you, I never intentionally wore white, but hey, my doctor’s coat is white.
I am every bit as much about fitness as I am about medicine, and I shouldn’t have to choose one over the other. I am damned proud of what I have accomplished in fitness, especially because I took things to the next level in my forties, not when I was a young whipper-snapper. If people are confused by the sampler plate philosophy by which I live, too bad. Yes, I am a board certified physician AND a degreed fitness professional, IFBB Pro, certified nutrition coach, writer, sponsored athlete and contest prep coach. I know it’s unusual, but why is that so hard for people to grasp? I mean, here I am, doing all of that, sending a message to the world that no one should have to be one-dimensional and boring.
I don’t hide from myself. I am honest. I have sass, and I speak my mind. I am proud of what I have achieved in my life, and I will NOT hide parts of myself which some overly judgmental people may have a problem with. I am NOT going to apologize for having a sense of humor, for using cuss words here and there (though I don’t use them while seeing patients). I am not going to paint a false picture of who I am. If you don’t like what I am doing, no worries. Move on.
If you find that you are compromising your own vision, dreams, or goals, perhaps you need to re-examine why you are allowing that to occur. If you subscribe to the no limits philosophy, then you would never even consider pulling the reins back. I will always encourage driven people to go for whatever they want, and if it doesn’t fit in with the conventions of one of their chosen careers or hobbies, even better. Break stereotypes and show people what you are made of! Don’t hide all the facets which make you who you are!
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