Growing up, we’ve all had our share of role models, and people who have inspired us to become who we are today.  As we continue to grow up (I am still growing EVERY day!), it is still important for us to find those people who inspire us to become better or to keep moving forward.

Having these inspirations in fitness, I have found, is even MORE important, as these are the people who help us get to the gym on those days we just don’t want to go, or let us know that “WE CAN DO IT”, even when we think we can’t.

I’ve had the pleasure to come in contact with some extremely inspiring women, thanks the wonders of social media and I want to make sure that you too can become inspired by their stories.  Today, I’d like to introduce you to Tina Marie Guaglianone.

Tina is an “Inspiring Woman” – she’s made the commitment to herself and fitness, despite her busy schedule as a mom and wife, as well as overcoming an eating disorder, nearly taking her down the wrong path. She has inspired me to overcome obstacles and keep moving forwards…I hope she can inspire you too…

Womens Ab Workout:  Tell us more about yourself. Who are you? How long have you been training and what are your goals and aspirations in the fitness industry?

Tina Marie Guaglianone: First and foremost, I am a wife and mother to the most amazing husband and children. I am a woman whose mission is to be the best I can at every moment in my life. I have a huge heart and love to share my positive energy. I think I’m pretty balanced physically, mentally, and spiritually. I love to inspire my family, friend’s clients and everyone I meet along my journeys in life.

In order for me to be my ultimate BEST and inspire others, I make sure I take great care of my body from the inside out with great nutrition and exercise. I have so much personal experience that I believe I can help others reap the benefits of living a balanced healthy lifestyle and provide them with the proper tools they need to grab their ULTIMATE best….

WAW:  You are a mom and from your blog, it seems like a fitness addict, well, actually a *M*I*L*F* (Mom In Love with Fitness) – what was your motivation to start working out and get into fitness?

TMG: The reason I ever joined a gym was because I was headed down the wrong road since the age of 13, with an eating disorder and body dysmorphic syndrome. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and decided to join Bally’s at the age of 18…. Once I started going regularly and got comfortable, I started following the big guys around to learn about my muscles! I was hooked since then! I fell in love with being a STRONG and fit YOUNG MOM! :O) I never looked back to my eating disorders and I am still working on my body dysmporphic syndrome, it’s something I work on everyday…Trying to look at all of my good qualities both internally and physically.

WAW: To get into great shape, like you are, you must be very particular about your training. How would you describe your training? Are you into body part splits or full body training? Why?

TMG: Particular is not the word! I am sooo regimented with my routine and workout! I LOG EVERYTHING I DO! I go to CVS and buy these little notebooks- 7inches by 5 inches and every Sunday night, I plan out my workouts and cardio for the week. On the top of EACH page, I write the date, the time I trained, my weight that morning when I woke up, my workout and weight and reps, and finally how many calories I burned, the time it took my minimum heart rate and my max heart rate! PIECE OF MIND is what I call it…I love looking back to my workouts from previous figure competitions! I smile!

As of right now, I am into circuit training. I usually will do that Monday Wednesday and Friday, I do giants sets of 3 exercises and a plyo move…..3 sets, then move on. My weights are pretty heavy, going for 8-10 reps…. I do this for 2-3 weeks, and then I switch back to splits… I honestly have a hard time taking a day off from any activity…Sundays are the days, IF I DO AT ALL.

WAW: Diet is probably one of the most important aspects of getting a flat stomach – and the hardest part for busy women to stay true too. What does your diet look like? How do you stick to your diet with your busy schedule and do you have any advice for other busy women out there who are trying to stick to their flat stomach diet?

TMG: You are so right Melissa! This is where I get so frustrated with women. They want MY abs, they hate their muffin tops but refuse to do anything about it…I really have to tune them out because I tell them exactly what I do and how I eat, and they make fun of me or laugh that I eat so boring- It’s really not that hard to do in my opinion. You must eat clean 85% of the time, do your cardio, use the weights…and they will come in! My diet is as clean as a whistle ALL year, not just when I am competing.

I know I am lean when I can see at least a 4-pack!  I live a life of veggies, fish, chicken, turkey, berries and SOME grainy carbs (sometimes). My diet is easy to stick to since I am home to prepare my meals before work, and after work. We choose to eat home 99% of the time, because I love to cook and I KNOW what’s in my food. MEASURING your meals is another key to your success in seeing those abs pop out.

If you are a busy mom on the run, you have to grab things like a shake on your way out which takes 30 seconds in a blender…Lara bars- fruit and nuts for energy, you can find at whole foods…always keep hard boiled eggs in the fridge. I think people make excuses for why they can’t pick something healthy… When trying to get those abs in check, before you do 1,000 crunches a day, clean up your diet, limit your starchy carbs after 2pm and when hungry at night, grab some nuts, hard boiled eggs or protein powder and some Greek yogurt! Also, PATIENCE!!!!!! Rome was NOT built in a day! :O)

WAW: What’s your favorite ‘healthy’ recipe?

TMG: Where do I begin?? I am in  the middle of writing my own cookbook!!!!! I love to cook! My FAVORITE has to be Wild Salmon over peppers, tomatoes and brown rice pasta. If you want the recipe, email me! I have tons more!!!!!

WAW: What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve faced in your journey to reach your fitness goals? How did you overcome them?

TMG: Gaining DENSE lean muscle is always hard for me! When preparing for my figure competitions, I was told I would have to gain some serious weight fat included, before I lean down and see a ripped body… I can’t walk around looking puffy and bloated. For me, I want to be pretty lean and tight all year. So When I competed, I did the best I could with what I had.

If the judges liked me, then great, if not, oh well…Getting on that stage was a great enough achievement for me anyway! The judges liked me! I took second place my first time against 12 amazingly ripped and hard girls!  Another obstacle for me was liking my body! I have days where people tell me I look lean and tight and I think they need glasses! So, taking compliments and liking my body are obstacles I am still working on overcoming!

WAW: Where can we find more information out about you?

TMG: Come on over to my funny and fit blog ilovemylifestyle.blogspot.com

I welcome new readers, new followers and I LOVE COMMENTS!!!

Thank you Melissa! I have answered some pretty great questions from you!!!!

This shirt is my inspiration to be a fit mother  – ONE DAY!  Thank you SO much for your time Tina!