Blessed and Sending Blessings

Photo by Judson Hanna

Occasionally in life you get a glimpse that everything is alright. That life is unfolding as it should. That things are falling into place more beautifully than one could dream. That lessons are being learned at the crucial moment where they will help reach the next level. That people that are meant to be in your life are in your life. That others have taught you what you needed to grow. That those you love can see and love the person you are at your core. That the world is good.

Today is one of those days.

So thankful for all the people that have touched my life. So thankful for every person that reads anything I have to say. So thankful for my fabulous, generous, loving family and friends, especially my dear sister, Allie. So thankful for this journey I am on and for this life I lead.

Feeling BLESSED AND SENDING BLESSINGS to you all, today and always.

xo, Olivia

2013 Will Be Your Best Year Yet

Don't you just love New Years? You get to start all over. Everybody gets a second chance. -Forrest Gump script 

It is 2013. How are you going to make this your best year yet? How are you going to use your second chance to live the life of your dreams? I think the best place to start is to evaluate how you feel about your life. I started by evaluating where I was last year, where I am today, and then meditating on what the future could hold.

In 2012 I resolved to:

BE HAPPY, LOVE FULLY, LET GO OF FEAR, GIVE BACK, MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE (Under the "make my dreams come true" section I included such things as book 6 national commercials, shoot for Victoria's Secret, get a commercial agent, get a theatrical agent, book awesome stuff.)

Did I accomplish every resolution I set out for myself? Not necessarily. Did I make all my dreams come true? No, I do not yet model for Victoria's Secret nor have I booked 6 national commercials...But I did reach for my dreams in a way I never knew possible and I accomplished things I never dreamed possible.

Miss Beverly Hills headshot for Miss CA USA

In 2012 I:

Got a commercial agent

Was booked on an all expense paid trip to Tokyo

Bought my very own house (didn't see that one coming)

Got a theatrical agent

Got a manager

Hired an entertainment lawyer

Broke my first entertainment contract legally 

Got a NEW modeling agency that I LOVE!!!

Left an acting studio I felt ok about

Found an acting studio I know has the power to help me transform and launch my career

Shot for Sketchers, Splendid, Ella Moss, BCBG, Marshall's, Zappos and more amazing companies

Shot with incredibly talented photographers 

Won the title of Miss Beverly Hills USA (also didn't see that one coming)

Helped Children of the Night raise over $20,000 in speaking on their cause

I am proud and blessed by my accomplishments of last year. The outcome I feel was greater in many ways than what I had set out to do. This year I am reframing my resolutions to where it is not about the outcome of my goals. I do not have to make my dreams come true today. I just have to CONTINUE TO DREAM. I am okay with being a work in progress. I am okay with being wrong sometimes, and taking those opportunities to LEARN AND GROW. I am okay with knowing that the road to life is long and winding and my vision of the ultimate goal now may not be the same vision I have 10 years from now or even one year from now. I didn't know that I would buy a house in 2012 and I didn't know that I would ever compete in pageants, yet the timing was right and in this past year those two experiences shaped my year more than accomplishing any other goal or commitment I set forward to do. 

With the Miss California USA pageant just around the corner, I know what I would resolve to do on last year's list, but this year I'm looking at the bigger picture. The final outcome of most situations is out of our hands- whether we book national commercials this year, shoot for Victoria's Secret, get our dream position at our dream job, win the lottery, win the title of Miss USA, etc... What is in our control is how we approach our life. We do not have to wait to accomplish our goals to live the life of our dreams. Why do I want to be Miss California? Because I think it would give me an opportunity to make a difference, to give me visibility in the community to spread the message of Children of the Night, to be a role model for young people to follow their dreams, to have a presence in the community to boost my own career and relationships in the entertainment field (in order to serve in all the aforementioned areas). Therefore, my 2013 resolution is to live as Miss California, whether I take home the title next weekend or not, I can choose to live as Miss California and embody all of the qualities that I attribute to being that title holder. I am NOT saying I do not want to win...I am just saying that in 2013 I have decided nothing can stop me from living the way I choose. Each time I walk into a room this year I will carry myself as the successful model, actress and title holder I aspire to be. I will LIVE CONFIDENTLY. And in 2013, I will have my BEST YEAR YET! I wish the same for you all!

YOU could be the next President

Your Playing Small does not Serve the World

Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure

It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually who are you not to be?

You are a child of God

Your playing small does not serve the world

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won’t feel insecure around you

We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone

And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give

other people the right to do the same

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence

automatically liberates others.

I wanted to share this with you all because it is these exact words that turned my world upside down. I am not the only one to think they are powerful because Nelson Mandela used the first part of this in his inauguration speech. The first time I read this poem, I cried. The first two lines put into words exactly how I had felt most of my life- "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure". Fear so often is the source that has held me back from chasing my dreams. When I made the move to LA to pursue acting, I let go of that fear. I still battle it each day and have to remember to keep it in check. But, I finally let go of the concept that these big hollywood "celebrities" were better than me, that what they did for a living was more noble than anything I could ever do. In spending more time in this business I have found that "celebrities" are just like me. I am equally capable of the great feats they have accomplished. They have put in the work, they have made the connections but they are not inherently better than I. We are all uniquely gifted and capable of anything we set our minds to. Literally, anything you can create in your mind, you can create in your world. If you want to be a billionaire, the next President or the next Angelina Jolie. You already have the heart for it and once you cultivate the desire, you will make it happen.

I encourage you today to face your fears, to realize your own potential, to dream bigger. You are worth the effort. "We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us", we are born to spread our inner light, our inner love. A world filled with love, for ourselves, for others and for the possibilities of humanity leaves no room for fear. DREAM BIG, LIVE BIGGER.

If I had lived in fear and continued to shrink at the opportunity to succeed, no one would have given me a crown ;) Now its your turn to shine!

How one "BOOM" changed everything

As "Here Comes the Boom" has reached the number 5 spot in box office hits I can't help but be grateful and a bit shocked at how this one movie changed my life. May of 2011 I was preparing to graduate with a Health Science degree from Boston University. I was working as a group fitness instructor and personal trainer and had big plans of moving to the west coast to further study fitness and build my fitness empire. Then I got an email from a local photographer that said they are casting model types for a feature film starring Kevin James and Selma Hayek and that he could get me into the casting. I thought it seemed like a good opportunity. He asked me to send my headshot and resume. My resume was full of my health science education and fitness background and my head-shots were in black and white from the waist up (for the actors that are reading this feel free to cringe at the thought of me walking into an audition armed with THAT). 

I walked into a room full of beautiful girls, but only felt moderately nervous when they called my name. When you walk into an audition for a featured role with nothing to lose, carrying no pressure from the acting classes I had never taken, knowing my life would continue as usual if I did not get the part, the pressure is minimal. I walked into what was my first impression of what an acting audition was. There were six men seated at a table at the back of a large room (thankfully I didn't know at the time that those men were the big time Hollywood producers of the movie). A man working the video camera asked me to slate. I didn't know what that was so I made it up. It went something like "I am Olivia, I'm 5'11'', a photographer guy told me to come to this audition. I am a student at Boston University and I am into fitness although I don't know that much about MMA, but I could totally by a ring girl because I have taken a few boxing classes". Luckily, this crew found that speech endearing instead of unprofessional and apparently one of the producers had a daughter that was going to BU in the fall so I offered some advice on wearing layers in the cold temperatures and joining the social groups on campus. I left the room shaking each of their hands and thanking them for their time. Since I was naive to how an audition should go, I left thinking I had a shot and hoped that it would work out because it would be fun to work on a feature film.

Against all odds, I got a call about a week later. There would be a fitting and then three days of shooting, they assured me I would get a SAG voucher for each day (I didn't know what that meant). Finals were coming up and I knew I couldn't afford to miss my last few classes, but, I decided to embrace seniorititis and take the risk for the unique life experience. It was certainly an experience. I got to be on set of a major motion picture. I saw the amazing work and extremely long hours that went into film production. I got to shake the hands of the stars and get advice from a very kind and gracious Henry Winkler (The Fonz). I felt like I was pinching myself each day. The other ring girls were less thrilled, they complained on the long hours and the long breaks. I was enthralled by the whole process. As I sat there each day with a front row seat watching this amazing creation come together, I realized my life passion was not just fitness--My passion was in entertainment! I had just always been too scared to pursue it. This featured role was my introduction. It ignited a fire in me that I had not previously even known existed.  My plans for moving to California immediately altered from "build a fitness empire" to "be a leading lady". 

Armed with nothing but a SAG card and that fire in my heart, I did make that move. The last 17 months of my life have been a roller coaster of lessons. One hugely important lesson is getting cast as a leading lady is quite different than getting cast as a local hire featured background. Do not for one second think that I have skated easily through this town armed only with a cute face and charming personality. I have taken classes in technique, scene study, improv, audition technique, commercial audition technique, voice and movement, self-realization,  and character analysis. I have busted my butt with a personal trainer- thats right, the personal trainer become the trainee! I have dyed my hair to get the part and then spent months dying it back to get the next role. I have felt the heartache of rejection more times than I can count. I have been laughed at. I have been yelled at. I have been told more than once to "go back to middle America" and "you will never be a star". I have gotten the call back, been put on hold and never gotten the job. I have gotten the job and been downgraded on set. I have worked the job and never gotten paid. It has not been easy every day. But that fire is still burning strong and I want to one day prove to all the naysayers that I can do it, that I did find my life path that week on "Here Comes the Boom", that all the work that I have put in and will continue to put in will pay off in a huge way. Mostly, I want to prove to myself that I can do it, that I can reach this goal and live the life that I spent a lifetime dreaming about.

If you see "Here Comes the Boom" feel free to think of me and how with one little stroke of luck my whole outlook on life was altered. That one casting convinced me to chase my dreams. So thank you to the director and producers: Frank Coraci, Mary P. Ewing, Gino Falsetto, Kevin James and Todd Garner. Thank you for giving me the chance to work on this amazing production. Thank you for inadvertently encouraging me to follow my wildest dreams. And although I know the ring girl scenes were cut from the film. I am far more grateful for the experience and the encouragement to chase the leading roles that I now get to audition for. 

May you all discover and pursue your passions to the fullest each day. And may all of your wildest dreams become the happiest of realities!

Here is to happy drinking!

If you read my blog, you know my dedication to hydration. I truly believe that getting hydrated (for those that aren't) will change your life. If you want energy, drink more water. If you want a flat stomach, drink more water. If you want clear skin, drink water! It seems so simple but so many people under-hydrate or dehydrate. Aim for half of your body weight in consumed ounces (64 ounces/8 glasses for 128 pound people).  If you are a caffeine or alcohol drinker, you need to be drinking twice as much water as caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. And if you work out, drink an extra glass for every hour of sweat session you partake in.

If you have spent any time with me, you know my dedication to carrying a water bottle with me at all times. In high school, I went with the gallon jug. I trucked it around like a badge of honor of my hydrated body. But there is something about a gallon jug that screams impracticality while driving to auditions and going to the movies with friends. I then transfered to genius bottle with a straw attached. I made my way through college with my "sippy cup" as my friends so affectionately nicknamed it. Alas, it spilled and leaked all over me, my purse and my car too many times to rationalize its continued use, SO I have moved on to my new water bottle go to- the ECO bottle!

I can feel good knowing that the bottle stays locked, tight and sealed in my purse or rolling around in my car. The dual lid makes it possible to add ice or lemon wedges to the bottle and have access to clean it thoroughly at the end of the day. And the small lid can be used when drinking out of the bottle through the day with a lessened risk of dumping half a bottle on to what will surely be your most sheer white t-shirt.

Be Eco friendly. Don't waste precious resources or your precious cash on plastic bottles. Buy a refillable bottle and stay hydrated! Here is to happy drinking!!!

The Best 'Get Skinny' Tips

1. Be realistic. Base your "skinny" on how you feel at a certain weight, how clothes fit you and how much energy you have. NOT on how skinny your friends, coworkers, prepubescent teens or Kate Moss look this month.

2. Self LOVE. Realize that if your skinny jeans don't zip this week that doesn't make you bad or wrong. It is an off week for your jeans and don't stress because Lululemon pants are more comfortable anyway. Also, it is perfectly normal for weight to fluctuate a few pounds during each day and throughout the month (ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A WOMAN). So go easy on YOU and know that you will get back to the basics of your eating and workout plan and those extra five pounds will fall off naturally. Never weigh yourself more than once a week (and only weigh yourself that often if you are actively losing weight). The scale is not the best indication of how you look and feel. You can turn five pounds of fat into muscle without the scale budging, but the way your clothes fit and HOW YOU FEEL will be the best indicators of that change.
Give yourself a self-hug. Look in the mirror and say you are sexy. Then find a figure flattering outfit that allows you to relax your tummy for today.

3. HYDRATE. I cannot reiterate this point enough. People that are skinny drink excessive amounts of water. When you are hydrated you digest food more completely, have more energy and stay full longer. Go for half of your body weight in ounces- if you weigh 140 lbs drink 70 ounces a day minimum! Bring a refillable water bottle with you everywhere you go so you will remember to stay hydrated (I'll allow you to skip black tie affairs with your bottle but thats it!) If you are a soda drinker (even diet soda), you will be amazed at how your body responds to drinking water instead and you will lose weight and feel better from making that one change in your diet. I recently gave up diet soda. I have gone two weeks without drinking any soda and had a sip of one yesterday and realized I have already lost my taste for it. I now prefer water with my popcorn snack. It was hard to forgo soda the first week, but stick to it and you will notice a huge difference in your energy and your belly bloat!

4. Slow down on the alcohol. I am a huge believer in having fun, but as I have grown older I realize that fun and alcohol are not synonymous.  When you are having several drinks a night it seems like everyone else is doing the same, but slow your roll and you will realize many people nurse the same drink all night, or separate their alcoholic drinks with an in-between water (YAY for hydrators). If you go out for long nights dancing, set a pace before you hit the dance floor. "I will have no more than 3 drinks today." That way you won't be tempted to keep throwing them back and losing track over the night. You also will likely cut out shots from your routine, which is a good way to stay in check of how much each drink is affecting you. By setting limits you will enjoy your night more, cut the crazy calorie intake of alcoholic drinks and have energy the next morning for a workout.

5. Snack Smart. I keep an apple, almonds and Skinny Bits in my purse. While running errands or working you often forget to eat when you get hungry. Having lean protein and fiber on hand is a great way to resist starving your body and craving the drive-in for a quick fix by the end of the day. When you drink water and snack on healthy snacks, you avoid wild blood sugar dips and will not be craving cupcakes or french fries by 4 pm. Starving yourself is never an effective way to lose weight. Keep your body feeling nicely satisfied all day and you will keep your metabolism moving and avoid the need to binge until you are stuffed.

Child-size, mini and sample are the best sizes :)

6. Avoid saying "I CAN'T". This tip is true for every aspect of your life. Even The Little Engine that Could taught us "I think I can", never I can't. So when you are on the path to a healthier life and someone offers you a slice of birthday cake please don't respond "I can't". It sets up a complex in your mind that there are things that are not allowed or forbidden. Just as we all learned as pre-teens, when something is not allowed it becomes more appealing. Change your language. It is never that you can't eat at that restaurant or that you can't order french fries or your fourth glass of wine or a shot of tequila, it is just that you "won't". You can do anything you want. Food has no power over you. So when a food comes up that you know will tip the scale or make you feel sluggish for the rest of the day just say "no thanks" and know in your head that you could have that cake, but you won't because you are focused on feeling your very best!
My friend, Kira, just taught me the genius trick of mentally telling yourself, "I can have it later" when it comes to dessert. This works phenomally for me because I am a sweets junky. So at the end of the meal when the waiter offers the dessert menu, I decline with the inner thought that if I am still hungry in an hour I can go get frozen yogurt. An hour later, I have digested more of my dinner and no longer am craving the sugar rush. If I still have my sweet tooth, I will make decaf green tea with a drop of honey knowing "I can always have dessert if I still want it later." Allow yourself to have something if you continue to want it, just don't over indulge. I believe everything is allowed in a healthy diet. Just use good judgement and smart portion sizes for high-fat and calorie dense foods.

(For more tips, see 5 things you can start doing today!)

It is so empowering to put yourself in charge of your health instead of following rigid rules and "I can't" philosophies. Your body is an amazing machine and when you feed and hydrate it well you will start to appreciate just how much your body loves being healthy. I hope that you can stay motivated and happy on your path to overall fitness. But, most importantly, LOVE YOURSELF for all that you are. I used to hate my thighs, I have to actively practice saying "I love you thighs," "You are strong, long and lean." I have come to realize that my legs are my best asset and even a possible source of my income, hello body parts modeling.  It may seem silly at first to use positive affirmations on what you have previously viewed as a body flaw, but trust me, you can change anything when you send it infinite amounts of positive energy. The more you love you, the more your body will respond to getting in the best shape of your life.

Health and happiness,
Olivia
xo

Getting back to health one bit at a time

It's been a long hot summer. As it is coming to an end I'm starting to see the results of my newfound summer routine-- traveling, eating, spending time at the beach and going to a few too many margarita happy hours. What is a girl to do when the long summer days get shorter and the promise of fall fashion weeks and pilot auditions are on the horizon?
It's time to get back to health! I am an Everything Fit girl through and through, but I also have an insatiable sweet tooth and a jam-packed schedule. When the summer temperatures hit their peak, I found myself abandoning my running schedule and finding more room in my diet for french fries. It happens, and you know what, it's okay to fall off the fitness wagon as long as you get motivated to get back up again!

I needed a little extra motivation since energy had plummeted as my gym schedule and eating habits had become lax. When you interrupt a steady gym routine it can be hard to remember how you used to get out of bed an hour earlier just to run around and lift weights.

I found my extra kick through my friend, Chrissy, recommending Bits of Health. They have algae tabs (mint-sized algae supplements) to help a variety of needs. For me, Recovery bits prevent an all-day slump after a morning workout and Skinny bits provide a high boost of complete protein pre-workout and between meals. They are one calorie a piece and are all natural (no cafffeine, sugar, or chemicals). I am always skeptical to try new fitness trends (pills especially) but it turns out algae is food. So it felt more like adding a wheatgrass shot to my day (and tasted similar) rather than popping a chemical compound. They have been a great way for me to protein up and power through my day. As I combed my favorite magazines, Shape and Women's Health, hoping to be inspired by the toned bodies of the models or the never ending list of ways to "Shrink your belly". The six pack abs were helpful to reminding me to buckle down, but I also found more evidence that algae is the new way to get in extra protein! According to the July/August issue of Women's Health "Spirulina, a blue-green algae, is a surprisingly good source of protein with all eight essential amino acids and up to six times the iron content of red meat. Research has all shown that it may help your immune system fight off infections." Skinny bits are 100% pure spirulina algae, so I feel good knowing a can chew or swallow these little bits to help keep me healthy.

I dislike "diets". I don't believe in self-deprivation or starvation. "Bits of Health" and I share the same philosophy: It is not about what you take away from your diet, it's about what you add to your health regimen. If you need to get back to your health, focus on the things that you can do more of: increase your water, protein, vegetables, fruit, and your vitamin intake and put in more hours at the gym. When you do start adding these things to your life, you will have less room in your tummy for a midday french fry snack and less late night cravings for cupcakes and ice-cream. When you focus on what you shouldn't be having, it's all you can think about! You feel deprived and let down and increase your risk of failure in your new healthy lifestyle.

Getting back to your fitness goals can be a challenge. I recommend going after it one bit at a time. Find what motivates you. Get excited about it. Practice it. Stick to it. And get back to your health!

"Love is all you need"

I feel that there is one focal point that we can use every day to make our lives better. I believe that LOVE can make our days beautiful and our lives worth living. I don't just mean romantic love, although that type of love can bring an immense amount of happiness to your life. I want to recognize the power of all-encompassing love. Love is the feeling you aim to have for your job, your friends, the people you work with, your home, your ride to work, your meals, the barista at Starbucks that makes your chai latte with soy milk, and perhaps most importantly for yourself. Love is the ultimate source of energy.

Imagine if you woke up each day and your first thought was "I love this day". And then you stepped out of your bed and went to brush your teeth and thought "I love my Crest Sonic Brush" and eventually you made into your car on the way to work and thought "I love LA traffic".  It may seem extreme or downright crazy and the last example probably is both, but to focus on approaching every aspect of your life from a place of love changes your perspective and makes every step of your daily routine full of positive energy.

The Beatles said it best when they said "All you need is love. Love is all you need."

You may be wondering if I practice what I preach. Putting love into everything is a concept I discovered several months ago. I must admit it is not yet a part of my core behaviors but I do try to apply love to everything I do and every person I interact with. The days that I remember to come at every situation from a place of love the more I experience joy in my life.

My amazing support team

I recently competed in my very first pageant, to be the first Miss Santa Monica USA. I came into the process wanted to meet new people, make friends, and get more involved in the community where I live. Yes, I also planned on winning, but it wasn't my first priority. The weekend of the pageant, my family and close friends came in town to support me. The love that radiates around the most important people in my life traveling across the country to celebrate and encourage me infused a brand new joy in my core. I felt so much love sitting down with all of them the night before the pageant. Bob, Jill, Allie, Mimi, Margo, Kira, Colin, Taylor, Katie, Revan, Maura- I cannot even explain how much loving energy radiated off of this group coming together to support me.

Me with the fabulous Miss Santa Monica

The pageant day was an unforgettable experience of my life. All the girls came together with anticipation for what was to come. Many, like me, were entering their first pageant. I came into this day with so much love in my heart I felt I was exploding with energy. There was lots of talking, some dancing and even a few short lived group ab routines that we did before our big moment on stage. I had so much love for the girls with dreams equally large as mine, ranging from athletes to musicians to neuroscience/ engineering majors, we were a diverse group of individuals. But regardless of who we were, the energy of the day was contagious between us. All I experienced that day was love. My entourage sat in the first two rows and I could feel them looking up at me proud of me for branching out into a new world of pageantry. Their support infused me with love. As you may know, I did not win this pageant. After being first called in the top ten announcement, I was not called to be in the top five. The defeat was momentarily disappointing but the experience was something I will always carry with me as a day of joy, friendship and personal growth. Who knew I could impress a group of judges in a one-on-one interview but disappoint the same group during an onstage question? It was all chance at a lesson that will push me to work harder in other areas of my life and move forward in my future experiences. If I see the end result as an unfair question or unfair judgement, I am left helpless to make any changes. When I can look at the experience from a point of love, I can see the opportunity for future growth. So I chose love. From that place I can see where I could have done better and how the winner was most deserving of the crown.

<3 Miss Santa Monica Haley Fletcher is a beautiful choice to represent the community. A California native that focuses on furthering her education and personal growth while staying active in loving the people around and bettering her community. I can't imagine anyone more worthy of the title. And I am so blessed to be able to call her a friend.

When you remember to love, you will be rewarded.

So I encourage you and remind myself that with love, your life will prosper. It has been proven in clinical tests that people that have love and respect for their body have an easier time losing weight than people that hate their flaws. So when you recognize recent weight gain, remind yourself how much you love your body, your curves, your strength, but commit to making it better, rather than attack it for what is wrong. When interacting with the people in your life, you will find that people mirror how you treat them. Treat others with love and you will receive love in return. Come from a place of love in every aspect of your life. When you do, you will experience more love from people and from the world around you. When you see the world is beautiful, it will be such. When you see your body as strong, you will make it so. Stay positive, remember to love.


My sister recently shared a quote from "Eat, Pray, Love" that I find very powerful and a good thought to meditate on and work towards.


I think [we] have the capacity to one day love the whole world.

What a Difference a Year Makes

Just ONE YEAR ago today my family flew out to the east coast to celebrate my graduation from Boston University. At the time I was thrilled, scared, excited, nervous, anxious, tired and a dozen other adjectives all at once. College graduation was my goal since Kindergarten. It was the expectation of myself, my parents and my extended family that I would get my bachelor's degree. I put in 16 years of long days, homework, all night cramming and the occasional socializing break, but I finally attained my goal. I graduated with a Bachelor's in Health Sciences. 

Much to my surprise, this was not the greatest accomplishment of my young life, or even of 2011. The next month I ran my first 1/2 marathon (a goal that initially had terrified me). Two months later I packed up my car like a Tetris game, found my sister to be an obliging passenger and drove across the country to Los Angeles. I knew a half a dozen people in the city, I had no job, no agent, no training or experience, little knowledge of the business, but I had BIG plans. Within a week I moved in, signed with a top agent and booked my first photoshoot. A month later, I booked my first TV show "Two and Half Men" and a trip to New York that would pay me 4 figures per day to model in front of thousands of people. I cried the day I booked that job. I didn't cry because I am over emotional (although that is also true). I cried because I realized that anything is possible. My whole life was ahead of me.

So that is my message for you- anything is possible. If you are staring at your diploma wondering what you are supposed to do now. Don't fret. Follow your heart. Don't be afraid to pursue a career that your degree doesn't necessarily support. Don't be afraid to move even further away from your family or to move back home if thats where your heart leads you. There is no easy track to success. It also doesn't have to be hard. When you focus on the meager job market or high cost of living you will experience a limited job search and bills you can't pay. Focus on the positive. You have so much to offer. Walk into every interview with the knowledge that they would be lucky to have you burnt into your mind. 

In my line of work, I interview every day; each audition is a new job, a new company, a new boss, a freshly printed resume. So I have a lot to say on the interviewing process. My tips in nailing an interview- be yourself, show your passion, be knowledgeable about the company you are interviewing for and be patient. Don't get discouraged, there are so many jobs out there. Everything really does happen for a reason. As long as you keep pressing forward everything will work out as it should. The universe supports you. Your future is better than you can even imagine now. Good luck. May you live the life of your dreams and be happy.

Your degree is not the ultimate goal, it is the first major step in accomplishing your dreams. Enjoy your graduation weekend, enjoy your accomplishments, enjoy your life. As Katie Couric so wisely said in her graduation speech to the BU 2011 grad's:

Find the joy and when you feel it, let it wash over you.

What's your passion?

After my second year of college, I was having a casual conversation where I was asked "what is your passion?" This seemed like a simple enough question. My passions should be the center point of my life driving me through my day to day activities. Instead of responding adamantly about the things that made me tick, I felt exasperated as I tried to come up with an intelligible answer. I could not think of one thing. Everything I was doing at the time I felt I was doing because I "should" be doing it. I could think of a few things I enjoyed doing, but when someone asks you what you are passionate about, it doesn't seem fitting to respond with "reality tv" and "cupcakes". What was it that got me going? What did I love? What would I fight for?

This one question started a turning point in my life. I decided there that I would not only find my passion but I would live it. Thus started a a three year journey to lead me to where I am today. I feel I not only discovered my passion (hint: it was in me all along) but I discovered a way to live passionately. I was afraid of what I knew in my heart I loved. I have always dreamed of being an actress and a model but they never felt like a "realisitic" lifestyle. I felt I should lead my life in a responsible way, in a safe way. When I was living in a way that I felt "should" be, instead of what I desired to be doing, I felt restless, discontent, and often very sad and alone. I felt everyone around me was on the right track to create the life they desired and I was just wandering around aimlessly. I was denying my passion, choosing to live in fear, instead of choosing to follow my heart and live in love. It took a huge amount of courage that I had to find to realize that being afraid of something doesn't mean that I can't do something. Often fear shows us the ways we can become the strongest version of ourselves. I took the plunge, discovered my passion and decided to live in it. I truly ENJOY my days and ENJOY my life. I didn't know how great life could be until I started to follow my heart.

I encourage everyone in a journey of self discovery to find what you are passionate about. What do you desire? What do you have enthusiasm about? Write down your thoughts. Write down every little thing that brings that warm fuzzy feeling in your tummy. Don't write down what you feel you "should" be passionate about, what your family wishes you were passionate about or what you wish you were passionate about. After coming up with a list of several things that bring about enthusiasm, meditate on these positive thoughts for at least 10 minutes. Sit or lay silently without distraction and envision the very things you are passionate about. I have a list and try to focus on a different item on that list each day. I always walk away feeling inspired and up-lifted. When you discover your passion, you can discover how to live passionately, so make your list and unleash your inner passion for life.

Here is what I am passionate about, in no particular order, with no self-doubt or judgement....

Dogs, specifically puppies and pugs 

Sunsets

Beaches

Watching the waves come in 

(The very best to combine 1 through 4, puppies on the beach-- aaah)

Breaking a sweat in a challenging workout

Keeping family close

Loving purely and freely

Allowing myself to be loved

Reading

Accomplishing a goal

Acting and simply being on set
Expressing emotion on camera

Exploring a character

Watching movies (with popcorn)

Women's equality 

Hiking

Stretching

Spreading awareness of disease prevention

Finding a cure

Making someone smile

Making someone laugh

Laughing until my stomach hurts

Stopping/preventing/eliminating sex trafficking

Protecting children

Protecting animals

Exploring the world 

Personal Growth, Self Exploration, Self Realization

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.
Oprah Winfrey

One Step at a Time

Oh me oh my. Through a crazy week of auditions and talks about the future with agents and potential clients, I get so antsy to see where my career will go.
I want success. I want it so bad that it is hard to sleep some nights. I have a hard time putting my phone down on the off chance the next call coming in could be my "big break".  I run all over town in stiletto heels with my portfolio and stacks of head shots in my purse on the off chance that between auditions, gym time and running errands I bump into someone that will tell me they want to change my life. If this unlikely event occurs that merely walking down the street will get the attention of Steven Spielberg, surely he will say, "I must have your headshot and resume now, or I will never wish to see you again."

I am beyond grateful that my ambition to succeed in this business gets me out of bed each morning, eager to see what my day will bring. But there is a point that I need to take a step back, put the phone down and breathe. My friend Miller Davis, who also lives in LA, just reminded me of the quote:
"Do what you can today."
Such a simple thought, "do what you can today", yet, for me, so powerful. I can take acting classes, take pictures for my portfolio, find agents, but am I going to be able to impress Steven Spielberg just by walking down the street? Probably not. I will work my way up to audition for a major feature film. My agents will do their job and submit me for every role I fit, I will do my job and study my craft. I will learn from each step in the process on how to be the best I can be. I cannot force success to happen.

The crazy part is, I know I can have the success I dream of. It is in my future. I have the drive and the growing skill set to make every one of my dreams come true. We all have it in us to make our dreams our reality. But, if we cannot enjoy each step of the process, then we won't be able to enjoy the realization of our dreams. I must remind myself each day that it is simply one step at a time.

So what is the next step for me? I would like to book a major campaign to solidify that I have what it takes to compete in this town.
The universe has a funny way of revealing to us ways to make our dreams happen. Upon realizing the next step I would like to accomplish, I stumbled upon a contest that allows girls to compete to be the face of BCBGMaxAzria's Spring line. The top ten girls will win a photo shoot and some of BCBG's latest styles. From the top ten, reps from the company will choose the winner and the new face of their line. So this is what I can do today-- Reach out to all the people out there trying to make their dreams come true and ask for a huge favor-- Will you help me take the next step?





Click on the link and vote:

Olivia Jordan for face of BCBG





When it comes to making your dreams come true, the path may be long, but as long as you keep taking one step forward, you are moving in the right direction.

How do I get into modeling?

Since I started publicizing my adventures in modeling, I have gotten lots of questions about what it takes to get into this business. I'll give you all of the knowledge I have gained over the years in hopes that it will help you get your foot in the door. I have been so blessed to be able to make money through high school and college and now to make a living in this business. But, It is a hard and often disappointing business and it is full of competition. You will have the most success if you are motivated to succeed and passionate about what you are doing. You  need to make sure you have what it takes to beat out thousands of other girls. You absolutely must be photogenic, be able to walk and be able to exude confidence on camera and onstage. You can learn all of these things! And to a lucky few, these things come naturally. Make sure you constantly are working on the skills to be the best you can be in your field. Most importantly, have fun! Be free to be you and enjoy each moment of your career.

Here are my answers to the most asked question:

How do I get into modeling?
You must have pictures. To prove to an agent or client that you can work a camera you must have pictures to show them what you are made of. To get pictures, network! Find professional photographers, make-up artist, hair stylist in your area and ask to do TFP (time for prints). TFP or test shoots means that you will not get paid and you will not pay them, you all will simply exchange photos to help you both build your portfolios. When starting a portfolio, start simple. You need images with beautiful lighting, light make-up and simple hair to show off just how beautiful you are. Show off your body. Do shots in swimsuits, modest lingerie or athletic wear to show off your figure. You can use social media sites as an outlet to make more connections. If you post pictures on these sites make sure they represent you in the most flattering light.

Do I need an agent?
If you want to model as anything more than a hobby, you need a modeling agent. You can search for agents online or ask people that are working who their agent is. Some agencies accept online submissions. Most have an open call day once a week or once a month where you can go in with pictures, wearing heels and a flattering outfit and meet an agent with an opportunity to sign with them. There are agents in every city across the US. Modeling agents generally take 20% of each job that you book. But for that 20% loss you get so much. Legitimate agents will assure that you DO get paid for each job you do, that you are hired on legitimate jobs, and can act as your mentor on how to get booked on more jobs. They often will set you up on test shoots and offer runway training to help you get in the best position to work. Also, in modeling you have the luxury of getting agents in multiple areas of the nation. If you live in a small town, reach out to agents in all the large cities surrounding you. If you live in a big city, reach out to other agents in surrounding cities and let them know you are willing and able to travel. The best way to book more work is to work with agents across the country (ideally across the world) that all believe in you and push you out there. It is simple math, if one person is sending you out for jobs, you only have the number of chances that they can offer you, if you have 5 people sending you out, you have 5 times the chances of getting hired. So spread your wings and get represented.

How can I gain experience?
1) Study. Buy magazines, look at current campaigns online, watch fashion shows on Youtube, watch videos of photo shoots online. You have so many opportunities to see what the very best in the business are doing. Take those chances and learn from the success of others.
2) Practice. Like all things in life, modeling takes practice to get better. It took me a long time to accept that I was not improving by simply going through the motions. I kept seeing the same mistakes in each of my pictures and all my shoots looked the same! A model needs to be versatile. You have to be able to exude sweet to sassy in a matter of seconds. Practice poses in the mirror. Know your angles. Know when your body look the best. But, don't let too much practice trap you in the same several poses. Let it open you up to trying different things and taking chances on film. Do as many test shoots as you can. Ask photographers for feedback about what they would like to see from you. Practice walking. Ask friends to watch you and give feedback. Ask your agent to give you feedback. Tape yourself. All of these things will open you up to what you are doing right and what you can improve on.
You can always improve!!! Unless you are Gisele, in which case, you are not reading a blog on how to model.


What size should I be?
People of all heights, shapes, sizes and types DO make it in this industry. It makes me sad that most girls that approach me about modeling say as the first thing that they need to lose a significant amount of weight. If you feel you need to lose an excessive amount of weight than you may need to reconsider if this is something you really want to pursue. I recommend breaking into modeling representing the very best version of you! For me, I had to realize that I have hips, musclular thighs and that I fill out a bra. It was unrealistic for me to try to compete with the stick thin (often 15 year old) models that make up the high fashion industry. I found models that I felt respresented more of my "type". Girls like Marissa Miller, Brooklyn Decker and Kate Upton had a similar body type to me and were making an incredibly successful career out of it. I keep up with those girls and see what companies they work for, what kind of shoots they are doing, who is representing them, and I try to look for similar things for my career. If I studied Kate Moss, I would always fall short. You must be realistic as to what "type" you are and EMBRACE what you have. Most auditions come down to the amount of confidence you exude in the room and on camera, if you are starving yourself or hating your body you will not be able to exude the confidence it takes to get booked.

I got an audition, now what?
Congratulations, you got your foot in the door. Now is your chance to make an impression. Wear a body flattering outfit. I generally wear a short cotton dress with stilettos so they can see my legs- my best asset :) Wear something that looks great on YOU and that YOU feel great in. Too many girls come dressed in oversized sweaters and clunky shoes, they may look beautiful but you can't tell what their body looks like and the client needs to know who they are hiring.
Come with your pictures. If you have signed with an agency, they will give you a portfolio where you will put your pictures and a comp card with images, your measurements and your agents contact information that you will leave with the client. Walk into the meeting with CONFIDENCE! Believe that you will book the job. Know that you are a valuable commodity. You will be greeted by 5-500 amazon girls likely that look much like you do. Do not let them intimidate you. You are all here for the same reason. Technically you are in competition, but if you are auditioning often, you will start to see these girls all the time. Make friends! If one girl beats you out for this job, you might beat her out for the next. Or you may end up both booking the job together and you will regret giving her the evil eye in the audition room when you spend a 12 hour shoot day together.
Don't lose any sleep over not booking. There is always work. Book the next one.

I hope all this helps you get started in the crazy world of modeling. I have been so blessed to experience the fun and adventure of this business. I hope that you will make all of your modeling dreams come true.

Back to the Blog

It has been an excessively long time since I last blogged. Mind you, that doesn't mean that I have run out of things to say. On the contrary, I just couldn't find a focus of what I should share with the world.

A lot has changed since I started this blog a year ago. I was a health science student working at a gym everyday in Boston, where it made sense to share fitness tips and motivation each day. Now I am an actress, model and most recently a pageant contestant living in Los Angeles where I am still finding my way. When making a drastic life change like this, it takes some time to figure out what your schedule looks like, how to get places, and when you can utilize free time. It took me seven months in LA to discover-- I have no set schedule, my GPS is still needed and I usually don't realize that I have free time until its over. I work each day to move forward in my career. In the past year, I have made leaps. I discovered my passion was to be on camera and moved across the country to a place where I knew very few people to pursue that dream. I am now living in Los Angeles, a city that offers endless possibilities for where my career will take me. I have agents working with me to get me work and get my face out there. I am taking classes to better my craft as an aspiring actress. I have joined the SAG union, a necessary step in my field. I have been working(!!!) and through work have had the chance to meet amazing people--people that I look up to in this industry and motivate me to press forward in my quest to fulfill my dreams. I am right on track for where I want to be in the world. I am living my dream, but it took getting to LA and becoming a working actress and model to realize my dream is much larger than simply to work, but to be someone that makes a difference. I want to make a difference in the world, leave an impact in my field of work. I want to inspire, I want to motivate, I want each person to "live the life you have imagined"(Henry David Thereaou).

I would like this blog to be an open forum of a journey. I come to you not as a fitness expert, not as a supermodel, not as a famous actress, not as a pageant winner, but as a woman on a mission.  I figure out my life one step at a time and when I get it right, I want to share my success with you, and hope to motivate your own success. When I am struggling to reach my goals, I will look to inspiring stories and quotes and aim to reinvigorate myself and you. If you would like to be part of my journey, check back in. Always feel free to comment on posts, ask questions and share your stories and quotes.
In the meantime keep in mind:

Be Resilient

“Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” – Unknown


Why should you be resilient? We live in a tough world. Full of competition, setbacks and failure. When you try and want to give up, that is when you know you must hang on a little harder. Starting a training program is tough, reaching a goal is tough, losing weight is tough. You must be tougher. When the scale isn't moving and you are having an off day and french fries and a Dr Pepper have never sounded better, then that is when you need to take a step back...Remember why you started this journey. Remember how far you have come. Remember all that you have already achieved. Rededicate yourself to your goal or give yourself a break if you need it. "I have worked out everyday this week and I don't feel like it"- its okay to feel that way! Just don't lose sight of what you want! Too often the next line is "so I might as well order take-out and camp out on the couch, I'm over this whole being healthy thing" (or some variation of such). You must persevere through the good days and more importantly through the bad days to reach your goal! Do not surrender to the negative self-talk in your head. Positively affirm yourself instead! "I have done so much this week that I am going to take today as a break but I will be back and refreshed tomorrow"- that is the kind of positive self-talk you need to remind yourself of, do not let the negative self-defeating words start sneaking into your workouts. 


“Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” – Marilyn vos Savant


Instant gratification does not work in fitness. Ask any person that has ever done a crash diet or taken a weight loss pill. When you so dramatically change your life you can often be setting up for failure. Do not let your past experiences of failing to meet your goal or gaining weight back defeat you for your future. You can lose the weight. You can be the fit, healthy and active person that you want to be. You will make the daily changes and sacrifices in your life to make that work and you will not give up on your new plan. The key is following your SMART goals and making a realistic plan for you. If you are currently eating 3,000 calories a day then why would you cut down to 1,200 for your weight lose plan? You will lose weight if you cut down by smaller increments and you will not feel as deprived. Some people can eat a normal diet of 2,000 and still lose weight! That is a crazy concept to crash dieters that live on a yo-yo of eating out and consuming thousands of calories a day to restricting down to 1,200 bland calories and working out many hours a day. Those people crash because the change is too drastic and although they may lose weight at first, they will gain it back and then some. One pound is equal to 3,500 calories. So if you expend 500 calories more a day then you will lose one pound in one week. 500 calories means skipping dessert for a night or working out for an hour. If you make both changes then you will lose 2 pounds a week! The point is, you can make these small changes. Do not give up because it is too hard, make changes to make it more do-able. Be patient in the changes that are happening to your body and your mind. Do not expect instant results. If you can approach this realistically you will be proud of the 2 pounds you are losing a week. Most importantly, when its not going your way don't let it defeat you. It wouldn't be success if there weren't a risk of failure. BE RESILIENT!


"If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” -Unknown

Plank workout!

Use this video as a starting ground for your own plank workout. Proper technique will help you get results faster so please follow the tips I give to get your most toned tummy yet!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoXnbF0-umk

A little less talk, A LOT MORE ACTION

We spend so much time planning what we are going to do. Making schedules, buying what we need, talking with our friends, revising our schedules. We have busy lives and preparation is necessary. Some may say:
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
No one wants to fail, so we plan, we organize. But sometimes, we spend so much time talking about we are going to do, that we fail to actually do it. I will start my diet on Monday! This is my favorite. How many times have you heard or said that one? How many times have you made it through that last weekend of gorging yourself with all your favorite foods in preparation for your diet to find the temptation of a box of donuts at the office? Temptation exists in various forms every day. If you can fight it on Monday, you also fight it on the weekend and you could be three days closer to your goal by the new week. Instead of hungover and bloated from a weekend of feasting.
If you want to make a change. Then you are responsible to make that change. You are capable of making that change. You have the ability to CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Remind yourself of that everyday.

Scheduling gym time in to a jam packed schedule is important, but there also may be a day where a gym visit will not fit in your schedule but suddenly you realize you don't have anywhere to be for the next 15 minutes. Don't be a victim of your day planner. Use those 15 minutes to your advantage. Aren't there days when the day goes by a little too fast and you don't have the chance to check everything off your list? Well there are also days that you may have an extra few minutes before you have to do the next thing. Why not do 50 crunches and then hit the obliques 50 times? Or do push-ups until you max out, then squats to rest your upper body then back to push-ups until you max out. Or if you don't mind being a little sweaty. Go for a run and try to beat your fastest mile time! Those extra 15 minute workouts can help transform your body and will be time better spent than starring into your fridge because you are bored and don't know what to do with your extra time.
Wake up every morning and remind yourself that you are responsible for your own actions. Do the things you want to do each day that make you feel happy and healthy. When you hit the pillow at night you won't be regretting what you could have done because you didn't just plan, you acted. You can be proud for putting your talk into action. I know from experience, you will sleep a little sounder at night.

Alright now... ready, set, GO!

hitting the pavement

It seems becoming a runner is the cool thing to do these days (1/2 marathon participants have spiked up to 30% more)! I have been getting a LOT of questions from newbies on how to start so I compiled two lists of the very basics.
If you are new to running there are a few basics that the elite runners forget to mention to us newbies. It is feasible to figure it all out on your own but wouldn't be a tad easier if I just told you some things to keep in mind if you are new to running? I think yes, so here are my top TOOLS and TIPS for newbie runners.

TOOLS
One of the fab joys of running is that you don't need a gym membership, a class schedule or any fancy equipment to hit the pavement, BUT there are a few tools that are going to keep you safe and running for a longer period here are the top tools.
1. You must invest in some good running shoes. Go to a legit store, try a few pairs and bounce around, jog in place in them. You need a shoe that is going to keep you stable and also give you a solid thumb width in between the end of your toe and the tip of the shoe. Generally, you have to go up a half size to get that space, I go up one size and lace up my shoes super tight to prevent toe banging (the fastest way to bruise and lose your toenails). You will need to replace these shoes after about 300-400 miles as the midline cushioning of your shoe will breakdown and can end up causing shin-splints or joint pain.
2. Get some arches. Stand on a sensor in a running store and determine if you have a high, mid, or low arch. If you invest in the arches you can help protect your shoes from breaking down too quickly and also can prevent against some body pains. Before I got arches my right knee always hurt on my short runs, after getting my medium arches from New Balance, that little bit of support in both shoes kept me running all the way through my half marathon without any pain at all!
3. Get good socks. Sweat wicking socks are a must to keep your toenails happy and attached and prevent foot fungus. Do your really need anymore explanation on why you want the sweat wicking brands? I didn't think so...
4. After all the focus on the feet I just have one note on all the other parts of your body...wear sun protection! Do you really want a farmer's tan? No. Then you should wear a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. If you want to follow my lead, I wear sweat proof SPF 100 (why not?) and a very mom like hat. But really, no one judges your running attire, and if they do- just lap them on the street and they won't worry so much if your hat brim is flat and the material is mesh/breathable fabric. Jealous?

TIPS
1. Start slow. Often a newbie runner wants to run like a champ right out the gate. Running too fast, too much, too soon is a super way to get injured early. Running is a perfectly natural thing for your body to do, but running on pavement day after day as a newbie is a great way to break down cartilage before even giving your body a chance! The body needs time to rebuild ripped muscles after a run. While I trained, I followed a schedule of runs 3-4 days a week at first. I took the other days to do lower impact activities- swim>bicycle>elliptical>stairmaster for about 30 minutes followed by 30 minutes of strength. You can then build on the runs by increasing mileage each week and even increasing the number of days you run. I highly recommend taking one day off of running no matter what level of running you are, the body needs to recover and build up its strength for the next week of training.
2. Keep up your strength! Strength training while running is crucial. The focus is on muscle endurance think- low weight, high repetition (15-30 reps) rather than maxing out on your highest potential weight lifting. Focus on the strength in your back and core, do crunches, work obliques and work every muscle in your upper and lower back. These practices will keep you strong in your runs and again- prevent against injury! I knew a super fit runner that tore her obliques running a week before she ran the half marathon. Those muscles need to be kept in tip-top shape to protect you while implementing your new running plan.
3. STRETCH. I realize at this point, you are skimming through this post, but please do not skip out on this last piece. STRETCHING YOUR HAMSTRINGS AND HIPS will keep you limber, aid in muscle recovery, increase your stride, and again PREVENT INJURY. You need to stretch for 10-30 seconds for each muscle group after a run when your muscles are all warmed up. Stretch to a point of mild discomfort (not pain) and hold that position. Stretching will keep you in this running game for longer. Plus you will find there are many added benefits to being super limber :)

Hope these Tools and Tip were uber useful or at least will prevent you from learning some of the lessons I had to learn the hard way...(after doctor recommended toenail removal surgery- one week before my first 1/2 marathon)

Find Your Love Affair

I have a love affair with fitness. I love to sweat. I love hearing the music blast through my headphones and the clink of weights hitting the rack. I love feeling my heart racing out of my chest. I love when I can't catch my breath. I love feeling so sore the next day that I am brutally aware of every muscle in my body. If my butt is sore enough to make sitting down painful, I am going to have a fabulous day.
I am also a freak.

But, I truly believe that every person can find a love affair with fitness. You may not love the same things I love. Try not to judge me when I tell you about mine and I promise not to judge you when you find your love affair in Strip Aerobics.
My advice to you is to try new things to discover your love affair. Try something that sounds appealing to you or try something that sounds absolutely not your style. You may end up in love with Bikram yoga (a specific series of yoga poses in 105 degree classroom) even though you normally hate sweating, or you may fall in love with Zumba even though you have no rhythm. You do not need to be good at something to give it a whirl. Scan the lists of classes at gyms close to you. Look for community classes in your area. There are almost always first timers specials. If you really want to take advantage, sample classes at different yoga studios and gyms always invoking whatever their new member special is (there are places that give you the first two weeks for the price of one class!) Tell an instructor that you are new so you make sure to do things correctly and not get injured in your fitness experiments. Also try new things more than once; the first class is spent trying to figure out what to do and doesn't allow you to get in the flow. Many Bikram followers believe it takes 10 straight days of the practice for your brain to appreciate it the way that your body benefits from it. So do not give up after the first day. If you are intrigued enough to try again, get your booty out there for another round. I do believe you will find your love. When you do, working out shifts from being a chore to being the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning.

“An hour of basketball feels like 15 minutes.  An hour on a treadmill feels like a weekend in traffic school.”  ~ David Walters


Find your "basketball" and make your workout fly-by. My hope for you is that you find what you are looking for in fitness and you continue to love it the way I love it for the rest of your life.

Fight the Fear

I find that fitness and life are interwoven in a way that you cannot fully understand until you see how improved fitness can improve your life with your very own eyes. I'm not talking simply about tighter abs making you feel better about wearing a bikini (although certainly that aspect has a positive effect on confidence boosts). I am talking about a deeper kind of confidence that comes from challenging yourself beyond your current capabilities and challenging the very things you are afraid of. I deeply fear failure. Running helped me see that my body can do much more than my brain initially allows.

I grew up a non-runner. In elementary school, I was always the last one to finish the warm up laps at tennis camp; in middle school I was the one responsible for making the whole team run extra sprints at basketball practice because of my lagging pace; and in high school, I was the only person to not make the walk-on track team and was told by the coach that he was sure "I would find something else I was good at." Bottom line, not being able to run was a point of disappointment for me for many years. 

In college, I changed my major many times, never feeling fully satisfied with my choices. In total fear of choosing the wrong thing and being stuck in a career and a life that I didn't want. It wasn't until my senior year of college when suddenly everything started to fall into place. I started modeling more which I realized didn't feel like work at all. I then took my focus in school off of "finding a career" and opened it to "finding something I was passionate about". What I realized was that my unsought passions of  modeling and acting had a stronghold on me. I had never really thought of pursuing my love of these careers because I felt like I was under-qualified. I was supposed to find "something else I was good at" and I did not have the natural talent to pursue these fields. Plus, all I could think about was how much better everyone else was at acting and some of them could even sing and dance too--how could I compete with that? This fear of "not being good enough" was powerful enough for me to deny my own passions. I realized this very fear was paralyzing me from doing what I loved to do. Because I never want to be paralyzed by my own fear of failure, I decided to pursue these fields by blindly moving from my life in Boston to a brand new adventure in LA. Deciding you are going to follow your dreams is a terrifying reality to face. Where would I ever start?

I looked at my life and all the things I would need to accomplish to make this change possible. The most important part of everything I viewed was to start believing in myself to work through life's obstacles. 

Being the fitness minded person that I am, I found a parallel between my fear of acting and my inability to run. I had merely accepted the truth about "not being a runner" rather than trying to do something about it. As far as I could tell, my legs were fully functional, so why had I believed for so many years that I couldn't do something about becoming a runner? In January, I challenged myself to run a 1/2 marathon in June.  At the time, I could not even run for 15 minutes without catching my breath.  But low and behold, I followed a training schedule. I started slow, I worked my way up. I researched and read and studied everything I could about runners. Six months after I set that goal I can now proudly tell you I completed my goal. I ran a 1/2 marathon after spending a lifetime thinking I couldn't run. The only thing getting in my way of running was MY FEAR of not being good enough. MY FEAR of not being the best. You don't have to be the best at everything you do. You do not have to be able to do everything. But, if fear is keeping you from following your passions then you need to challenge yourself to FIGHT THE FEAR. 

You are not born as the person you are meant to be. You must work through the obstacles of life to fight for the person you can be. Often it's true that the harder the obstacle, the greater the triumph. You can train yourself to overcome the obstacles of life by challenging yourself in fitness. For me, once I learned to run, all of a sudden moving cross country to follow my dream feels much less daunting. At first 13.1 miles seemed impossible. But each week of training the miles increased and they even got easier! The day of the race the only remnants of my past fears were the butterflies in my stomach. But there was not one second of those 13.1 miles that I thought I would not finish, I knew I could do it as long as I kept putting one foot in front of the other. My head is still held high as I take on my next challenge. I will follow my dream to Hollywood and if the intimidation ever tries to get the best of me I will just keep moving one foot in front of the other.