Attitude of Gratitude

Okay, so I am regularly asked...."Lisa, how do you stay so positive and balance a career, training, competing and your personal relationships so easily?" Ok, first and foremost it is not EASY! But I love my life and every opportunity that has come my way has been a true blessing. So, my first piece of advice for those who have a hectic life and stress seems to overtake them, I say practice and "Attitude of Gratitude!"

....Gratitude in advance is the most powerful creative force in the UNIVERSE!

It's true!!! Expressing thankfulness in ADVANCE is the way to overcoming obstacles and manifesting positivity throughout your day. So do not wait for something to happen and then GIVE thanks. Give thanks BEFORE it happens, and watch the positive energy swirl!!

Quick Tip:
If you are keeping a journal - food journal, workout journal, or personal - make sure to write down at least one thing that you are GRATEFUL for everyday! End your day by looking over all that you have accomplished and write down what you are grateful for to end your day on a positive note and create your positive vision for the next day!

That's The Bottom Line!
Lisa Lutz
IFBB Bikini Pro

The Road Less Traveled....

FINALLY......LISA LUTZ, IFBB BIKINI PRO!

I DID IT....ON JULY 9, 2011 AT TEAM UNIVERSE IN TEANECK, NJ I BECAME AN

IFBB BIKINI PRO BY WINNING MY HEIGHT CLASS (CLASS F!)

I can't believe it!!!! I am still on cloud nine, ten and eleven. My husband and I drove up to Teaneck, NJ on Thursday evening and checked into the beautiful Marriott Hotel and set up for a full day of tanning and prepping on Friday. Early Saturday morning, my amazing Fitness Facebook Friend, Teresa Stramandinoli and owner of ProGlow Mobile Sunless Tanning, came and gave me the most amazing tan and pep talk. She is a rockstar and I will be seeing her again at my first pro show - The Jacksonville Pro Championship on Aug. 5-6!

I walked on stage for pre-judging on Saturday at 1 PM and felt incredible. I owe that feeling to my incredible coach, trainer and mentor - Nicole Wilkins! She has really helped me transform not only my body and physique, but most importantly my mental attitude and outlook. She has helped me fall in LOVE with this sport and everything that is included in the preparation! Nicole helped feel like a PRO even before I received my PRO CARD! I cannot thank her enough for believing in and pushing me to be better for every show!

PRE-JUDGING

During pre-judging I made first call-outs and moved to the middle. I was super excited as this is good sign that I will be in the TOP 5 and possibly the TOP 2!!!!! You can hear h0w excited my husband, Adam Lutz, is on the video! He has been amazing. He was my personal chef and errand boy for this incredible journey and did it with grace, patience and love!!!! He is also training and dieting for his first Men's Physique competition on Aug. 20 in Rockville, MD!!!

Then at 11:45 PM, yes I said, "11:45 PM," I stepped back on stage for Finals! They announced the winner of my height class - Class F at MIDNIGHT!!!!! CONTESTANT #400 - LISA LUTZ!!

FINALS

I was beyond excited!!! After 2 years of training and dieting I achieved a dream - TO BECOME AN IFBB BIKINI PRO!!!! What an incredible night???

So, I would like to thank the following people.....

My husband, Adam Lutz

My Mom, Angela Melton

My Dad, Terry Melton

My Coach, Nicole Wilkins

My Pro Tanner and Pastry Chef - Teresa Stramandinoli

My girl, Koren Barwis

My Fitness Together Team, Sherry, Mike, and Martin

My brother's and their families

My in-laws - The Lutz's

My friends and families - including my FaceBook Fitness Family!!!!

And everyone else who has believed in me and supported me during this journey!

So what's next - headed to Jacksonville, FL in 4 weeks for the Jacksonville Pro Championship!

Competing for my bid/invitation to the 2011 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV!

STAY TUNED!

LISA LUTZ, IFBB BIKINI PRO

Total Balance & Harmony!!!

Ok, so I know that I have not posted anything in my blog for about 7 months, and if you read the subject line and thought.......this is going to be a little hokie.....you were wrong!

The definition of ~bal·ance:

Noun: An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady!

Balance is something we must possess to stay upright! I love it. In my life it is COMPLETELY necessary. When my life is out of balance everything that I do seems to be chaotic and hectic and without a clear plan or vision. My feet can easily be swept out from under me and I will fall flat on my face. So, now that you know the definition, let me just say that I had loss my "Balance" in life from October 2010 to March 2011.

I was floundering with my personal goals, my career path, and my relationships with my family, friends and FOOD! With my lack of balance I had created the perfect storm for muscle loss and weight gain! I over indulged in everything sweet and crunchy and gained back the 35 lbs. that I had lost during the previous 8 months while I was working on becoming an IFBB Bikini Pro.

What was I thinking? I wasn't. I was tired of keeping up with all of the prep, and energy that it took to keep all aspects of my life in harmony, so I settled into living off-balance, but after 5 months of over indulging and feeling sorry for myself, I was again brought to my feet by my role-model, Nicole Wilkins ~ 2 X Figure International, and Ms. Olympia 2009.

Nicole, has always been a "Fitness Role Model" for me, but this year she became much more. Last year I watched her compete in the 2010 Figure Olympia competition to defend her title and she lost to Erin Stern by the narrowest of margins. She held her head up high and turned her title over gracefully. In the next 6 months that followed, she trained harder and with more determination, so that when she stepped on stage at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH, there would be NO DOUBT that she was the best. AND SHE WAS!!!! She defended her Figure International title and no one came close to her physique and presentation.

After watching her at the Arnold Classic in March, I took a hard look in the mirror and said, "What are you doing?" "Why are you self-destructing?"

So, I decided to STAND UP for myself, and create some HARMONY in my life. First and foremost, I started with a new goal......eat better, train harder, and feel better. I began a new training program and diet regime and revisited by old goal......BECOME AN IFBB BIKINI PRO BY BUILDING THE BEST BIKINI BODY!

I then rounded out my balance & harmony circle with a new job. I am a Personal Trainer at Fitness Together in Fairfax, VA!!!! I love it. I love my clients and my co-workers. I haven't felt this fulfilled in my job in a very LONG time. I look forward to going to work, I love my job, and then when I leave I have the rest of my day to train and prep for the next day!!!!

So, the moral of my new story.......I AM LOVING LIFE!!!!! I AM IN TOTAL BALANCE!!!!

I competed 2 weeks ago in my first National Competition this year - Jr. Nationals in Chicago, IL and placed 3rd in my height class. I leave in 3 days for my second National Competition ~ Team Universe in Teaneck, NJ. My goal is to build the best bikini body this year that I can and continue to make improvements on my physique and stage presentation. After I accomplish that, the Bikini Pro Card will come!

Wish me luck!