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How to Make It As a Fitness Model!

Which means you Wanna Be a Fitness Model? People that follow my stuff know I generally write about nutrition, supplements, training, along with other topics that are more science based than subjective topics, such as what is covered in this article. I decided to shuck the science geek persona, and write on a topic I know will be helpful to thousands of would be and want to be fitness versions. As well a known "hard core" science based no BS writer, why I am writing what some will certainly perceive as a "fluff" article? Over the years I have gotten hundreds, perhaps thousands, of gals that ask me through email, letters, or in person "how do I become a fitness model Will? You have been in the business a long time, surly you of most people should know. " I get this from newbies and I get this from women that have been at it a while but they have been unable to "break in" effectively. The fact is, I have been in the fitness, health, and bodybuilding biz a long time, and though We are known as a science and nutrition based "guru" type, I have trained many a fitness athlete, and judged fitness in addition to figure/bikini shows for the NPC, Fitness America, Fitness USA, and other federations as well as given marketing and business advice to any or all sorts of athletes, including fitness models. So , it's not as far fetched as it might seem that I am going to use this area to cover a non scientific topic, which is, how one goes about being a fitness model. This article will be helpful to both experienced and novice types looking to "break in" to the biz. If you are already a professional and successful physical fitness model, I am sure you may still glean some useful information from this article. First the bad news, there is no one way to turn into a successful fitness model. There is no single path or magic secret. There are however some key things a person can do to significantly improve their chances of "making it" in the fitness biz as a model, and perhaps using that success as a launching pad in order to greater things, such as movies, TV, etc . Several of the top fitness models (Trish Stratus and Vicki Pratt spring to mind but there are many others) have gone onto careers in entertainment of all kinds. Bottom line, though there is no magic secret to becoming successful as a fitness model, this article will be about as close to a blueprint for success as you will find. "Do I need to contend? " This is a question I get asked all the time and it's not an easy one to answer. In fact , the answer is (drum roll) yes and no. The person has to deicide why they are competing in the first place to answer that question. For example , do you need to compete if your goal is to become a successful fitness model? The answer is no . Many of today's well-known fitness models have never competed, or they competed in some small shows and it was clearly not part of their success as fitness models. However , competing does have the potential uses. click here One of them is exposure. At the upper level shows, there will often be editors, publishers, photographers, health supplement company owners, and other business people. So , competing can improve your exposure. Also, competing can make sense if you are trying to create a business that is related to your competing or will benefit from you winning a show. For example , say you have a personal training gym you are trying to build. Sure, having the title of say Ms Fitness America, or winning the actual NPC Nationals and being an IFBB pro, will help your reputation and the notoriety of your business. There are many scenarios had been it would help to have won a show for a business or other endeavors. On the other hand, it must be realized that winning any show does not in any way guarantee success in the business end (and it really is a business) of being a fitness model. The phone will not ring off the hook with big offers for contracts. Also, it's very important to realize that it's common that the fourth or 6th or 8th place finisher in a fitness or figure show will get more press than the champion. Why? Though the winner might have what it took to win that show, it's often other gals the editor, web publishers, supplement companies etc, feel is more marketable. I have seen it many times where the winner was shocked to find the lady didn't get nearly the attention she expected and other girls who placed lower have gotten attention in the form of pictures shoots, magazine coverage, etc . Something to keep in mind when you ask yourself the important question "do I need to compete and if so , the reason why am I competing? " Answer that question, and you will know the answer to the heading of this section. Winning a name of some sort can be a stepping stone, but it is not in itself any guarantee of success in the fitness industry. It can like a college degree; it's what you do with it. Now. If you compete for the fun of it, then by all means go for it, but the over is focusing on competing as it relates to the business aspect of being a fitness model. Right body, wrong federation? Ok, therefore after reading the above you have decided you are going to compete, or will compete again. If you don't plan to compete, you can skip this. The biggest mistake I see here is so many gals have the right body for the wrong federation. Each federation has its own knowing criteria and a competitor will do poorly simply because they didn't bother to research which show would be best suited for them. I will provide you with a perfect real world example of this. Recently I judged a show whose criteria for the figure round was the women ought to be more on the curvy softer side with some tone, vs . being more muscular and athletic with less bodyfat that other federations might allow. At this show one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen came out. She had been very proportional, great muscle tone, lean, and athletically shaped with narrow hips and waist and broader shoulders. How did she do at this show? She didn't even place in the top ten! Why? Because this lady was not what we were instructed to look for and didn't fit the criteria. After the show I informed her which she looked great, but this may not the federation for her. I told her she had much more of an NPC type body, where a little more muscle, athletic build, and less bodyfat is rewarded. The following week I was judging a good NPC fitness, figure, and bodybuilding show and there she was. How did she do? She received the entire show with all judges voting her number one unanimously. Conversely, if your body type tends to be more rounded and well developed, but with a little more bodyfat, wider (but not fat! ) hips, you may be better off competing in say the Fitness The united states Pageants. If you are going to compete: (1) find out exactly what the judging criteria is for that federation and (2) go notice those shows as a spectator for several different federations and see which one your physique, style, etc will fit into greatest. (3) You have to decide if you truly have the athletic abilities to compete in a fitness competition (which requires a routine) or a figure/bikini competition. I often see women who would do well in a figure show but really don't have the fitness abilities do the routines required to be competitive with other athletes in the show. Some shows will allow you to do both competitions plus some wont. Networking 101: dos and don'ts... In so many respects, this is the area that will make or break you in any enterprise, and yet, people in the fitness industry do an amazingly poor job at it. If you don't network and market your self properly, you can pretty much forget about having any real success as a fitness model, or a success in virtually any organization. For the sake of space, we will stick to fitness. When I first started out, I was a self marketing machine. I could be found at each and every show I thought might be an opportunity, walking the isles of trade shows, bodybuilding, shows, fitness show, and others. I offered out a zillion cards and I took a million home with me, and followed up on each and every one. I went to as many market related meetings, outings, parties, etc . as I could get into. I now have the reputation and experience in the industry that I do not have to go to such a show unless I feel like it, or have meetings, but they were quite helpful in the beginning. I am always from the number of fitness models who contact me who have never even been to the Arnold Classic Fitness Weekend, or the Mister. Olympia, or the trade shows like the NNFA Expo West and others. If you want to make it in the fitness business you sure because hell had better treat it like a business. I have seen many a pretty girl who wants to be a fitness model who believes if they stand there looking pretty long enough, someone is going to offer to put their face on the cover of a mag. News flash, there are millions of beautiful women out there and to be noticed, you have to hussle to get that business such as everyone else by networking your butt off, or having a good agent (if you can afford such a thing) who is performing it for you. Pick a few major industry shows to attend (some of which were mentioned above) and go to them each year. Have a plan of attack of exactly how you plan to market yourself and network. Many fitness models, bodybuilders, etc see a demonstrate as one big party. If that's you, then have fun at the party, but don't think you are really marketing yourself like a serous business person or athlete. Another thing that always amazes me is the number of fitness models who either have no business cards, and still have some cards they printed up on their bubble jet printer at home! They ask me to help them or what ever and i also say "give me your card" and they look at me like "I am so pretty I should not need some sort of card you fool. " This attitude turns off editors, photographers, writers, and industry people faster after that if they found out you were really a transvestite. Don't do it. For every pretty girl out there who thinks the world owes all of them a favor, there are 100 who are ready to act like professionals. Ever wonder why some fitness model you know is doing better than you might be even though you know you are prettier than her? That may be why... never ever go to a show to network without good credit cards, bios, and professionally done head and body shots you can give to said editors, publishers, photographers, industry kinds, etc . Don't stand around looking pretty assuming they will find you, find them first and introduce yourself. Not to mention it should go without saying you should be in good condition and have something of a tan to look your best. You want to go to the shows plus party? Fine, but do it in private after the work is done and don't make a fool out of yourself at some sector sponsored get together. Hell, I was virtually poured into a cab at last years Arnold Classic after going to a boston sushi place with some well know industry types and companies owners (you know who you are! ) but at least nobody saw me! We had our own little private get together after the show to let loose. Let me give you one final real life example of how NOT to market yourself. Last year I was on retainer as a consultant to a mid sized supplement organization. The owner of the company asked me if I knew a couple of fitness model types that could work his booth for a trade present. In fact , he requested "unknowns, some new faces people had not seen yet but had real potential to develop with the company. " I went and found him two such gals I thought fit the bill. He offered to pay their particular flights, room, and food plus a thousand dollars each for the days work. The two girls were told to become at the booth 9am sharp. The night before at the hotel, I saw the two girls getting in a cab at 11pm approximately dressed to kill, clearly on their way out to party. The next day they showed up at the booth an hour and a half later and hung over! What was the result of this? (1) it embarrassed me to no end as I had recommended these to the company owner (2) they would never get work from that company again (3) they would never get any function from me again and (4) they would not get a reference from either of us for other jobs. I see this kind of thing all the time in the fitness biz, and it's not limited to fitness models. Amazingly, a few weeks after the show they e-mailed me and the company owner wanting to know when their next job would be! Amazing... Who loves you baby? When there is one universal truth, it's that the camera either loves you or it does not. Any professional photographers will tell you this particular. For some unknown reason, some people are very photogenic and some are not. Truth be known, there are some well known fitness models (who shall remain nameless as they would probably smack me the next time they saw me) who are not all that attractive personally. It's just that the camera loves them and they are very photogenic, but not terribly pretty in person. Conversely, I have observed the reverse many times; a girl who is much better looking in person than in photographs. Such is the fate of the person who desires to be a model of any kind, including a fitness model. If you find you are not very photogenic, keep working with different photographers until you find it that really captures you well and pay that photographer handsomely! Now, to be bluntly honest, there are also some wish to be fitness models who are not "unphotogenic", they're just "fugly"! There are some people out there who have no business trying to be exercise models. It does not make them bad people, it just means they need to snap out of their delusions and find a profession they are much better suited for, like radio personality.... "How do I get in the magazines? " This section sort of incorporates everything I have protected above, and adds in a few additional strategies. For example , as I mentioned before, competing in fitness shows and or figure/bikini displays can increase your exposure, thus getting the attention of some magazine publisher or photographer. Networking correctly at the numerous trade shows may also have the same effect, and of course having a good portfolio done by a photographer that really captures your look, a good website, etc ., will all increase your potential for getting into the magazines, or getting ad work, and so on. However , all of these techniques are still somewhat passive versus active in my opinion. It's still the fitness model waiting to be "discovered. " In my opinion, waiting is for bus stops and pregnancy tests. Success waits for no man... or woman as the situation me be. So , after all the above advice is taken into consideration as having an added effect to getting you magazine coverage, exactly what else can be done? For one thing, you should read and be familiar with all the magazines you want to be in so you know who is who and what design for the different magazines are. I can tell you right now, if say the Editor-in-Chief of a good sized fitness or bodybuilding publications and even says "hi, I am the Bob Smith what's your name? " and the fitness model has no idea who also Bob Smith is, Bob will not take kindly to that. Why should he? You should know who the major players are in the magazines you want to be seen in. He is doing you the favor, not the other way around. You should know who the major players are and positively seek them out, don't wait for them to "discover" you. If you look at the masthead inside any magazine, it will inform you who the publisher is, who the Editor-in-Chief is and so forth. The mailing address for that magazine, and often the web page and email, can also be found. What is to stop you from looking up those names and mailing them your pictures and continue directly? Nothing, that's what. If you see a photo spread you think is really well done, what is to stop you from finding out who have the photographer is and contacting them directly and sending them your pics? Nothing, that's what. The point being, you want a get a break in the business, make the break, don't sit there thinking it's looking for you, simply because it's not. Be proactive, not reactive! Luck is the residue of design. Be successful by design. As my old brother used to say to me as a kid when I told him I was too scared to ask out a pretty woman "what's the worst that can happen Will? All she can say is no. " That's the worst that can happen to additionally you. Beware of web idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, scum bags, and sleazoids! This part is sort of self-explanatory but really worth mentioning. As with all industries that deal in entertainment based media (e. g., television, theater, modeling, and so on ), the fitness industry attracts its far share of web idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, scum luggage, and sleazoids, to name just a few. There is also the class of person known as the schmoe, but we will leave that great place and time. Point is you want to meet the right people while not getting involved with that group of worthless types that will only drag you down, delay you, or just flat out screw you up and over. For example , a guy comes up together with says he wants to "shoot you" for the magazines, but what do you really know of this guy? He has a camera and some creative business cards, so that makes him a photographer right? Wrong! If someone want to shoot you and they are not a well-known name (and you should know who the well known photographers are because you researched that already! ), find out who they are. Do they have references you are able to call? Girls you can contact he has shot before and were happy with the work? What magazines has he released in? Does he do it professionally or as a hobby? That type of thing. Another thing I see is the big web rip-off. I'm amazed how many girls get scammed by these web idiots. Lesson here is you get what you pay for, when some person wants to build you a web site for free, you are getting what you pay for. Yes, there is good money to be created on the 'net, and the net can be great for marketing yourself and making contacts, but most of it's a scam. You might be better off paying a good web designer and web master who has experience with other fitness model types and has references you can speak with. I can't tell you the number of girls who have been screwed over by some internet thing that went to hell, like the "fan" who volunteers to build a free web site and either runs off with any money made from the site or puts their very own picks on porn sites and any number of other things that made them regret like hell ever agreeing towards the site in the first place. Clearly, I can't go down the list of all the possible pitfalls of the web idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, foam bags, and sleazoids out there to be found in the entertainment business, but you get the idea. Be careful!

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Understanding the Definition of Health Related Fitness

As being a Health and Fitness Professional, it is my job to understand terms and definitions which are commonplace to this industry, as well to keep up to date with evolving trends. Through my experience, I have found that a number of terms deserve a little more clarification than that which they are given. Aside from clarifying the definition of Health Related Fitness, this article intends to shed some light on a few of the associated conditions, and to show their respective distinctions. Is it simply all in a name? The fitness world seems to use the idea Health Related Fitness like a generic fitness principle - interchangeable with others like "Physical Fitness", "Health and Fitness" or simply "Fitness. " While all of these terms can be included under the broad term Health and Physical Fitness, they individually make reference to different aspects - both generic and specific. Unfortunately, references to these and other fitness-related terms are often vague, while regularity in their intended use is meager at best; there is a kind of "generally accepted" use for them, but individuals often rely on personal interpretation, and this can lead to confusion. With that said, does Health Related Fitness simply infer fitness by means of good health? Not quite. That is why we have to understand a little more behind these words before digesting the definition. How did the term Health Related Physical Fitness come about? That is a great question. One could probably ask what is this concept all about - can we not simply use the terms "Fitness" or "Physical Fitness" instead? " Why Health "Related"? The main reason stems from the fact that most health and fitness terms are used inconsistently and often refer to various concepts or notions. Subsequent to the 1996 report from the US Surgeon General (Physical Activity and Health; a study of the Surgeon General), there was a move to try and address the alarming rise in obesity levels among the general United states public. Studies and initiatives required standardization among clinicians, health practitioners and fitness trainers to grapple with the task available. Enter "Health Related Physical Fitness", a working term to address the general state of health among the public. The definition regarding Health Related Fitness According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the main authority in this field, ineffective definitions together with unclear and subjective wordings, as well as definitions containing terms which themselves require defining, have contributed to complicated the term "Physical Fitness. " There exists no reliable guide for Health and Fitness Professionals to measure "Physical Fitness", since the term has been so loosely and inconsistently defined. It is therefore that one should consider the concept of Health Related Fitness. The definition therefore centres on the 5 Components of Physical Fitness which relate to "good health. " These Components are: Cardiorespiratory Fitness Body Structure Flexibility Muscular Strength Muscular Endurance On the other hand, Skill Related Fitness Components are: Balance Reaction Time Coordination Speed Speed Power According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the definition of Physical Fitness emphasizes the difference among Health Related Physical Fitness and Athletic Ability Physical Fitness. Its point-of-departure is the "health" of the US nation, which is often referred to as the actual "public health perspective. " In that respect, the 5 Health Related Fitness Components are more important than those related to Athletic Capability (or Skill Related Components). Although the concept of Health Related Fitness has an integral association with "good health", the five Components are addressed individually by health professionals to allow for their measurement. Now that we have a deeper understanding of the term, exactly what purpose does it serve? Continuing from where the definition left off, the objective of measuring the 5 Components is to recommend clients about their own particular Health Related Fitness, and to use data obtained from the tests to design appropriate exercise applications which can then be evaluated. The 5 Components contribute evenly to make up a holistic Health Related Fitness, which is involving direct interest to the health of the ordinary citizen, in that the concept is normative. In other words, it is a standard which allows with regard to consistent application. It is therefore important for those working in the health and fitness industry not to mistake "overall physical fitness" using "Health Related Physical fitness. " To conclude, let us consider this distinction between Physical Fitness and Health Related Fitness One needs to bear in mind which regular physical exercise can improve overall Physical Fitness, as well as Health Related Fitness. However , overall fitness is a generic term and it is up to subjective interpretation, while Health Related Fitness can be assessed. The distinction therefore , between these two terms, exists in this Health Related Physical Fitness can be measured according to a set of established comparative norms. This is where the "rubber hits the road. " The rules set out by the ACSM enable health professionals to work with clients to assess and measure their response to exercise and prescribe suitable exercise programs. A client's progress can then be monitored and adjusted where necessary in order to obtain the desired fitness goals. Cleto Tirabassi is a certified Fitness Trainer with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). His work centers on the "sensible approach" to Health Related Fitness, which entails the use of practical, flexible and sustainable methods to achieve optimal levels of health insurance and physical fitness. His clientele belongs mostly to the group he calls "average everyday people", who in short want to be within excellent shape, yet still lead a conventional life.