Great Fat Burning and
|
 |
Tina Todd: Fitness has always been a natural part of my life.
Growing up in Pittsburgh with the rivers provided the environment for swimming and slalom water skiing was a big part of my life.
In addition I was active in Judo and briefly in gymnastics.
Although I participated in weight training intermittently for the past 10 years, it wasn't until just over two years ago that I met a personal trainer who was involved in training and competing in figure.
We worked out for several months when she stated that I should compete, and I ended up placing 4th.
Since then, I have made it a goal to train harder in hopes of making it to the professional IFBB level in the near future.
Gregg: How long did it take you to get to where you are now, and what would you say to our readers who are already tired and frustrated and just want to finally "get in shape"?
Tina Todd: I have trained in some type of physical activity practically my entire life.
However, since picking up the weights and placing well at my first fitness contest, I must admit that I haven't put them down.
The hardest part is deciding that you actually want a better figure. Once someone decides to take the first step and sets aside the time, making it a priority, the rest is patience.
Too many people believe in quick fixes and gimmicks, when the reality is hard work and dedication.
The benefit though is that essentially anyone will start physically and emotionally recognizing improvements both in their appearance and energy levels within 6 weeks.
Which brings us to the second ingredient, a clean diet.
I often tell people that their diet starts at the grocery store. If you can refrain from buying junk food, chances are you can't eat it when you get home.
Gregg: One thing I'd like for you to address because I feel it's a big one with women, is weight training. Even nowadays, a lot of women shy away from weight training because they don't want to look like Arnold.
If they train at all, it's withthe tiny pink weights and they never even break a sweat.
You've developed a gorgeous, sexy, lean hard body and you couldn't have done it without weights.
What do you say to these women to get them to not just train with weights but train hard and make it an important part of their overall program? (continued below)
| Discover over 27 Unique Metabolism-Boosting Secrets for Getting Rid of Stubborn Belly Fat Free e-Report for Visiting Today (a $17.95 value) Just enter your first name and email below and the Free report will be instantly emailed to you. Inside, you'll discover:
Be sure to check your "bulk", "junk", or "spam" folders, as emails occasionally get mistakenly filtered. I hate SPAM as much as you do and will never rent or sell your email address. |
Tina Todd: Too many women feel that weight lifting will actually make them big overnight, when the reality is that gaining large amounts of muscle is a very slow long process and one that is almost impossible for most women..
Weight training is an important ingredient to creating a firm, toned physique that cardio alone will not achieve.
By developing muscle density through weight training and adding the correct amount of cardio a lean hard body can be sculpted.
As mentioned though people must realize that it's a process which takes time. I strongly suggest logging one's training so that weekly and monthly you can look back and be satisfied with your accomplishments.
Finally, taking progress pictures is an excellent way to compare the start of the process, which will help the person stay motivated by seeing the changes over time..
Gregg: What advice would you give to someone who's brand-new to the fitness fight to get and stay in shape and struggling to stick to a proper nutrition and exercise program?
Tina Todd: Start off slow. Often people join a gym and go 6 or 7 days in a row the first week, then can't move the second week and forget to go the third week.
Join a gym or if able hire a personal trainer or a nutrition and fitness consultant whom will work with you towards your goals.
Knowing someone is waiting on you tends to make people stick to their plans longer and after 6 or 8 weeks, the habit and schedule is achieved for people to continue on the path of success.
Remember nutrition starts at the store, so an individual should write a list, then go and buy the food on the list. Keep the diet interesting in order to assure a better chance of succeeding.
Gregg: What's the biggest mistake you made when you started and how did you correct it?
Tina Todd: My biggest mistake was failing to do my own personal research on the sport, regarding nutrition and posing. I corrected it by locating a trainer who specialized in these aspects and attended a posing workshop which she offered.
Further, since I have pursued the sport to a greater level, I took classes in nutrition and became a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant.
For the average person these aspects are not as important, but in order to take the sport to higher levels, developing and being involved in the network of other competitors is beneficial as it adds to ones motivation by understanding others are heading down the same path.
Gregg: What do you think is the most important thing or skill you'velearned with regard to health and fitness?
Tina Todd: The most important skill I've learned is understanding the importance of nutrition and how food feeds and heals the body.
Eating regularly on 2 to 3 hour intervals keeps metabolism levels high and prevents the body from naturally wanting to store food and energy.
If one understands this skill, then nearly 80% of the work is accomplished, the other 20% is in the gym.
Gregg: What are some common pitfalls you feel people can stumbleupon and how do you help them avoid these obstacles?
Tina Todd: Two of the most common pitfalls are over training, which prevents the body from healing properly between workouts and leads to burnout.
The second pitfall is improper technique, which along with the first often leads to injury.
For new comers to the gym, spend some time with the staff or a trainer at a minimum until you learn the proper lifting techniques to avoid injury.
Also remember to take some time off during the week to give the body recovery time.
Gregg: Moving forward and knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently with your own journey, if anything?
Tina Todd: There's very little that I'd do differently.
However, if I would have been knowledgeable of the sport at an earlier age, I may have pursued competing sooner in my life, since I truly do find it enjoyable.
Since starting, the sport has been great to me. As with anything it's up to us as individuals to make the most of every opportunity and pursue our passions.
Gregg: Do you feel that ongoing feedback and motivational tools would help in maintaining a fitness program? I always encourage my clients to take pictures periodically.
Tina Todd: I do pictures weekly and keep a daily journal of my progression. I find them both to be very motivational when looking back over time and actually seeing the improvements.
Further, I suggest finding a consultant or friend who can also provide positive weekly feedback on your progression.
Having a support network online and at the gym helps individuals maintain their long term goals.
Gregg: If you were to advise a close friend or family member how to follow in your fitness footsteps, what would you tell them?
Tina Todd: Patience!!! There's no overnight cure to lose weight and become physically fit. Set short term goals, such as lose 2 lbs this week, or even ˝ lb and log it when it's accomplished.
Furthermore, don't set unrealistic goals, such as losing 10 pounds a week as that just sets you up for failure.
Set small goals, make fitness a part of your life and surround yourself with positive reinforcements and people.
Gregg: The most common excuse I hear from people who don't eat right or train is that they don't have the time. You work full time.
Yet because you compete, you haveto get into top shape, which takes even more time and commitment than people who just want to lose a few pounds.
Tina Todd: It's the idea of making fitness a priority.
For me having a family, working full time, being a full time student, and training for shows there's no doubt that it's a bit of a handful. However I choose to make the time.
I find that time management skills are essential to create and find the time in each individuals schedule.
For instance, I wake up at 4AM each morning to do my cardio routine, then after work hit the gym to do my weight training.
By splitting my training up I find it better for me personally, plus it gives my body more strength and endurance during each portion of my training.
Gregg: What advice do you have for people who use 'lack of time' as an excuse to eat poorly and avoid exercise? What's a typical day for you when it comes to training and nutrition?
How are you able to consistently fit them into your busy schedule?
Tina Todd: Preparing in advance what you eat, prevents grabbing unhealthy items when the hunger sets in. I've learned to cook 2 or 3 days of meals at a time then place them in the fridge.
Since I almost always carry a lunch bag with me, when it is time to eat, I have healthy food options and correct portions available. There's nothing worst than being hungry with nothing prepared to eat.
Family/Friend support and understanding is essential as many times we don't eat the same meals for dinner, nor at the same time.
Eating healthy takes no additional time than eating unhealthy and if planned correctly actually saves time by avoiding the time sitting, ordering and paying at a drive through…
Gregg: What do you think are the keys to becoming successful,whether it's competing or just losing 15 pounds?
Tina Todd: Success is measured in the improvements to ones wellbeing, setting realistic goals, then attaining them. People must realize the benefits beyond appearance in attaining the goals and becoming more physically fit.
The benefit of increased energy levels, better metabolism, personal self accomplishment, stronger heart and lungs, better posture, etc are all successes to ones overall well being.
Unless an individual is greatly overweight, I feel it's a misconception to gauge success on just weight loss. Some thin people also suffer from the same problems and benefit just as much in starting an exercise and nutrition program.
Getting started is the biggest hurdle, the second is to never finish and make exercise and proper diet a lifetime commitment.
Gregg: What's one of the things you find most challenging aboutwhat you do?
Tina Todd: The most challenging thing is juggling the 24 hrs on any giving day and keeping my workouts at the top of my priority list.
We all have hectic lives and often times due to meeting another commitment or working late, I move my workout times to accommodate.
The key is that I seldom ever just say, "I'll do it tomorrow", as just in going to bed at night is inevitable, getting my workout in during any particular day is just as important.
Gregg: Competing means you have a specific deadline where you haveto be in top shape. You can't slack off when training for a show.
What advice can you give to people who don't have some sort of deadline, such as a photo shoot or competition, that they can use as motivation to help keep them on track?
Tina Todd: Setting small personal deadlines daily is the best way to stay on track. If you typically work from 8 to 5, set the goal to be at the gym by 5:30 and home at 6:30.
This serves two purposes, it meets your commitment to yourself to achieve a better you, while also providing family members the knowledge that they haven't taken a back seat to your endeavors.
If you have 45 minutes a day, split your routine to gain the most out of your time into cardio and weight train one or two body parts per day.
Further change your cardio weekly or daily, by doing 20 minutes of biking one day, then use the treadmill for 20 minutes the following session.
Keeping exercise fun and somewhat non-routine keeps the long term focus within reach.. Once the small daily deadlines are routine, then set longer range plans and goals, since as mentioned, starting is the key, then persistence.
Gregg: What are your future plans?
Tina Todd: My immediate future plans are to train hard in pursuit of an IFBB pro card.
Further, I'd like to pursue modeling opportunities as they are presented and time permits.
Finally I plan to devote my time to helping others attain their goals by offering my services and utilizing the knowledge I have gained over the past 10 years.
Check out pictures of Tina Todd below and don't forget to visit her web site at TinaTodd.com
If you really want to succeed with your fitness program and learn more about how to get sexy abs and a lean, flat stomach check out the following information.
- 5 Fat Loss Myths Revealed: Why Long, Slow Boring Cardio is not the Best Fat Loss Program to Increase Your Metabolism and Burn Belly Fat...
- Exclusive Muscle Building Report Reveals: How to Add 11 Pounds of Muscle EVERY 7 Weeks!
- Learn 5 Facts You MUST Understand if You Are Ever Going to Lose Your Belly Fat and Get Six Pack Abs
- Fat Loss Secrets Revealed - FREE Special Report
 |  |  |
 |  |
|  |