Its hard for most women to find who they are. Its a journey you embark on every day – figuring out just where you fit in – what makes you happy – and to most importantly, make yourself happy.
This week’s inspiring woman, Emily Lind, has found the “Essence of Em”. She has found how to love herself for who she is – through her love for fitness and healthy eating and life itself.
I had the pleasure of meeting Emily in person this past weekend at the Arnold 2010 Expo – and let me tell you – she’s awesome on paper but even MORE inspiring in person. Let Emily tell you how she found ‘herself’ in hopes of helping you find you…
Womens Ab Workout: Tell us more about yourself – What is the Essence of Em? How long have you been training and what are your goals and aspirations in the fitness industry?
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Emily Lind: I created the essence of em because I realized that achieving goals was my passion and I wanted other people to experience the same joy by achieving their goals. It is so important to be happy. I believe having someone to hold you accountable is essential to your success and achieving this happiness.  My goal is to teach people, check in and be involved in their life, which is many times more fulfilling that achieving my own goals.
My love for fitness started when I was in Junior high and has become a daily passion. Interest in weight training, athletics, and primarily volleyball has sparked into a love for competing and fitness . I knew there was something more after high school and I needed to challenge myself. The power of challenging myself can teaches me a lot of life lessons. I want to be the best I can be becoming more driven in all areas of life like character, personality, spiritually, and to become an overall better person. Loving fitness I have found loving myself, which is what the Essence of Em is all about; “loving yourself” for who YOU are.
WAW: You competed in your first competition this past year – what was your motivation to become a competitor?
EL: As I’m thinking about why I compete its about finding my inner women. It changes the way I feel inside about myself. I have pride, strength, beauty; becoming a part of something bigger than myself. The normal person sees it as compteing against everyone else but when I’m on stage its about me. It forces you to find that confidence that only you can find in yourself. When I stand up there in front of the judges and on stage everything flashes before my eyes. Everyone who said no and people tried to crush me in life, its like it doesn’t matter and the strength that is found in myself is what reigns. As much as this is about physical training it is so much more about mental training.
WAW: When trying to get into bikini competition shape you have to be EXTREMELY focused on your diet. How did your diet change in order to prepare for the show? What does your diet look like as you get closer to the show date vs. the beginning of your show preparation?
EL: The key is maintaining a healthy lifestyle year round by eat six small meals a day; the main source being protein, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and good fats. As you get close to show portion sizes are reduced and change on weekly basis. My coach Cathy Savage monitors me and it is an ever changing process by seeing how your body reacts.  Water intake is so essential as it give me more energy and helps me feel full. For me personally I eat healthy year round. By eating healthy it helps me feel better and look better. It also allows for a seamless transition into competition mode.
WAW: In order to really slim down for a competition training is important. What type of workouts have you found to be most successful for fat loss? What does your cardio vs. weight training workouts look like?
EL: For fat loss I like to be in fat burning mode. I am usually low on energy so I try to keep my workouts short combining lifting with plyometrics. I keep my body moving through the whole workout, to keep my heart rate up which burns more fat. Typically my cardio involves some form high intensity interval training which gives you more bang for your buck. An example of this would be stairmaster, treadmill, or I’ll jump in a spinning class to have someone else push me. Change is key! This keeps my body always guessing.
WAW: We live in a very fast paced society – one where women are constantly on the move. You mentioned on your site that “relaxation massage therapy is essential to a healthy lifestyle.â€Â  Why is relaxation massage therapy essential to a healthy lifestyle? What are two things every woman can do at home to help them relax and live a healthier lifestyle?
EL: Massage provides an escape. Even if this escape is only temporary. It provides time to collect yourself and be in touch with you. Life gets so hectic. We all need to find a healthy balance. This is one way you can treat yourself. Athlete or not, everyone needs to remain connected-body and mind.
Sometimes, time or money doesn’t allow us to get massages as often as we should. So I would suggest simply letting the hot water run and pour in some essential oils. When I want to really detoxify myself I have water as hot as I can stand it and dump in some epsom salt. This flushes out all the remaining toxins from my bloodstream. Following this, I drink LOTS of water. Find the perfect body butter and lather you skin up. It almost promises from a good nights sleep!
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WAW: As any woman knows the weight loss process can be a long and frustrating journey. What advice can you offer women on that journey to keep them motivated?
EL: We all have goals we someday hope we to fulfill. Yet the task looks daunting. Often times, I think our list need to be shortened and focused. Keep your goals physically in front of you. EVERYDAY. Come back to them when you feel weak.
We have to take care of ourselves and learn how to make time for ourselves when we need it. For me, this means that I do something for myself in three ways: I make sure I stay physically, emotionally, and spiritually fit. There will be good and bad days. Some days the journey seems like its rocking and rolling.. you could conquer ANYTHING while other days, you simply cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is when we must dig deep inside of ourselves and push. Fight against the voice that says, I can’t do it, I give up, and I’m not good enough. You are in the drivers seat, you have the power to control your own life.
WAW: What’s next for you in 2010? Competitions? Modeling?
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WAW: Where can we find more information out about you?
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Tags: Ab Workout, Achieving Goals, Arnold, Aving, Better Person, bikini competition diet and training, bikini competitor, Character Personality, emily lind, Essence, Expo, Fitness America, fitness atlantic, Fitness Industry, flat stomach diet, Flat Stomach Workout, Goals And Aspirations, Happiness, healthy eating, how to prepare for a bikini competition, Inspiring Fitness Women, Inspiring Women, inspiring women - emily lind, Inspiring Women In Fitness, Journey, Lind, Passion, People, Photography, Pleasure, Volleyball, Weight training, Woman
Leave A Reply (3 comments So Far)
Sara Lynn
1147 days ago
Emily Lind is wonderful. She is so right about placing your goals physically in front of you. I find it so helpful when I write things down, I tend not to forget as often. If you don’t write your goals down – your goals will always be up in the air.