In The Gym with Gina Aliotti

This woman is fantastic ya’ll!  I mean she has the most positive spirit that comes through on her youtube vids.  I first saw her in several of my fitness magazines and her physique is so enviable, I will stop and read whatever article features her.  I’ve never met her face-to-face in person and even so, I sent her a request online and she quickly agreed to submit an interview with FFFC!  We are so thankful for her generosity and making time for us.  So, sit back, relax and read this interview.  You will see she is a very busy lady but never short on excellent information and tips to help all of us on our fitness journey.

I promise you will not be disappointed!

Introducing Ms. Gina Aliotti!  Yaaaaaay!

FFFC:  Please introduce yourself to our readers.

A: My name is Gina Aliotti. I am 28 years old and from Monterey, Ca, currently living in San Diego, Ca with my beautiful husband, Michael.  I am an IFBB Figure Professional and lifestyle expert whose life mission is to inspire and teach others about this healthy lifestyle. I received my Bachelors Degree in Foods and Nutrition from San   Diego State University in 2007. After 6 years of competing in the IFBB Figure Circuit, I am currently taking a break from the competition stage to start a family and focus on my business and helping others reach their goals.

I earned my IFBB pro-card in 2005 and quickly established myself as one of the world’s top figure competitors, winning many titles including the prestigious Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in 2008. I was also runner up at the prestigious Olympia 3 years in a row.  I am also a certified Personal Trainer, certified Crossfit Instructor, certified Yoga Instructor, Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, and marathon runner.

FFFC:  How did you get interested in fitness?

A: Throughout my youth, I was always active and involved in team sports from softball to field hockey and dance. I was raised in a very health conscious environment, as my father was a competitive bodybuilder and my mother owned a health food store and was a huge health advocate. My father (Johnny Aliotti) introduced me to figure when I was 19. I was never interested in woman’s bodybuilding but when figure began, he introduced me to it and I was excited to give it a shot.  We both competed in my first show, “The Santa Cruz Classic” in 2004. After winning my first show I was hooked and the rest is history…

FFFC:  What prompted you to make this your career?

A: Aside from my competitions and success on the stage, my true passion is in helping others reach their fitness goals. Throughout my life I have witnessed the benefits of embracing a healthy and active lifestyle. Being raised in such a health conscious family, healthy eating and being active became my way of life. I was able to see how much the food I ate and the moderate activity I was involved in not only changed and sculpted my body but helped me build my confidence and self-esteem. From my own personal experiences, I was excited to pay it forward and teach others how to live this amazing healthy lifestyle.  I believe that my most important qualifications are beyond my knowledge and experience and reside in my ability to listen to others, ability to empathize with their unique challenges, and offer structure as well as motivation in taking on those challenges.

My ability to inspire and create permanent lifestyle changes, with those that I work with, is what makes me happy! I always wanted to make a career out what I love to do and when I discovered my deep love and passion for health and fitness, that is exactly what I decided to do. I couldn’t be happier.

FFFC:  What do you like most about what you do?

A: I love watching the transformations and success among those I work with. Not only physical transformations but the mental, spiritual and emotional transformations that take place when people start to turn inward and focus on themselves as #1. I love to watch the journeys unfold and to witness people’s lives literally unfolding right before their eyes, in ways they never thought possible. I absolutely love proving to people that YES they can do anything they set their mind to. It is so rewarding to watch people not only reach their goals but maintain their results and improve all aspects of their lives. People think they are only going to get a body transformation but little do they know that their efforts and dedication to a new and healthy lifestyle comes with so much more beyond the physical component. I love showing and teaching people that it is the small things that all add up to big changes. People think that to get the body they want, they have to go to extremes. With my plans and tools, I love to prove to people that you do not have to go to extremes rather it is about being consistent with their efforts and finding a plan that works for them and their particular needs.

FFFC:  What is your favorite exercise routine?

A: Now that my competing days are behind me and have been for a while, I have really changed up my training to higher intensity circuit training. I love the variety I have added back into my program and have found not only great results but the change has kept me motivated and enjoying each and every one of my workouts. With limited amount of time, my approach has been “get in and get out”, “quality over quantity”, and “incorporating ALL aspects of fitness”, to reach my lifestyle fitness goals. There is something to be said about spending less time going through the motions and more time making each rep, set and exercise count, getting in and getting out. With this higher intensity, well-rounded approach, every day is changing, which has kept me excited and motivated for each of my workouts but also keeps my body responding, complete win-win.  Here is example of a typical week’s workouts: (keep in mind every day and week is changing in intensity, variation, exercises, activity, keeping NO day the same as another. Some days are higher intensity circuit style where other days are still focusing on isolated exercises and shaping. I still keep my glutes and shoulders in the forefront of my mind while training slow and steady.

Note: Because I have built such a solid foundation and put in years of consistency in the gym and in the kitchen, I feel fortunate to be able to “play” around with my fitness without the worry of losing hard-earned muscle or shape, There is something to be said about, day in and day out consistency and hard work! Once you have put in the time, work and energy, it is then time to play!

THIS IS A TYPICAL FAVORITE WEEKLY WORKOUT ROUTINE.

DAY 1:

1 MILE RUN—WARM UP

4x :

1/4 mile run- for time

25 x push-ups,

25  kettle bell swings

25 assisted pull ups

25 sit ups

PM- YOGA

DAY 2:

Glute & Shoulder emphasis

5 minute warm up-Jump Rope

3 sets of the following 12-15 reps

Shoulder Press

Thrusters

Side Laterals

Front Raises

Step Ups

Cable Kick Backs

Alternating Lunges

25- 30 minutes stepmill- HIT, skipping every other step OR high incline walking on treadmill

Day 3:

100 push ups

run 1 mile

100 assisted pull ups

run 1 mile

100 body weight squats

run 1 mile

100 hyperextensions

run 1 mile

YOGA P.M.

DAY 4:

YOGA ONLY

DAY 5:

5K-10K RUN

DAY 6:

MY TRACK WORKOUT (FOUND IN MY TRAINING AND NUTRITION DVD)

Incorporating sprint work, plyometrics and exercises targeting full body

EX: jump squats, side squats, jogging, sprints, stairs, etc

DAY 7:

YOGA

FFFC:  What do you consider the most useful workout equipment?

A: Honestly, I believe less is more. I love to use my body weight and less equipment to sculpt my body and focus on detail work rather than size and bulk. My favorite piece of equipment would be a pair of dumbbells and my resistant exercise bands. You can do so much with a simple pair of dumbbells. You can work your entire body and get an intense workout with nothing but a simple set of dumbbells. The best part is you don’t need a gym to use dumbbells so you can get in a workout inside or outside the gym, just the same. As for my resistance exercise bands, I love these little pieces of equipment because they are very effective for lower body exercises and again can be used inside and outside the gym. I keep a few bands, with different resistances in my gym bag and use them with my clients and myself. You can place them around your ankles and various exercises such as side squats, leg extensions, and kick backs. With a set of dumbbells and a few exercise bands, you can get a full body intense workout that can be tailored towards anybody’s level of fitness.

FFFC:  What do you think is the biggest misconception about this field and what you do?

A: I believe that the biggest misconception is the fact that there is an easy fix! People are striving for the latest and best new diet plan. There is no perfect plan for one person nor is there a “diet” that will work for life. People want results today, rather yesterday and are not willing to put in the work. The truth is it is all about eating healthy, exercising regularly and having a positive mindset that will deliver the results one is seeking. People want quick and easy and the reality is you have to put in the effort to reach your goals and maintain them. All of these fad diets will help shed water, ie allow for quick weight loss of simply water but are not offering you long-term results. If people can understand that there is no quick fix and you must put in the efforts, they will not only reach their goals but create a lifestyle that will allow them to change their lives for good. I do not believe in diets but rather making lifestyle changes.

FFFC:  What general tips do you have for the average woman balancing family, career with health and fitness?

A: I often tell women who want to get involved in living a healthy and fit lifestyle that it is the absolute best investment they will ever make. An investment in themselves will pay dividends for the rest of their life. It takes time to fully embrace all the aspects of living a fit lifestyle from getting in workouts, preparing meals, finding time to balance gym time with family time etc. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to make things fun and to remember there is no cookie cutter plan for everyone. You can make it work, within your life and schedule, if you get creative with your efforts and focus on consistency. Rather than thinking that you have to be extreme with your efforts, I highly suggest you focus on the small efforts that all add up to huge results. I love this quote from Robert Collier, “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”

When times get tough remember that if it was easy, everyone would be doing it and our obesity rates wouldn’t be sky-high. In the long run, the time you invest and the efforts you put forth will change your life forever. Remember that this healthy living and eating is a lifestyle and not just a temporary thing. If you learn to find ways that work for you, you will be more likely to stick to a plan. For example if you are not a “gym lover” and have a hard time finding a sitter for your children, learn to get your kids involved and make them a part of your fitness efforts. Rather than having to do cardio in a gym, get the kids and head out for a walk. Take your kids to the park and while they plan, do a little playground workout that requires minimal equipment. You can always find a park bench to do step-ups, tricep dips, and no equipment is needed for good ol body weight squats or push ups. Make fitness an everyday part of your life and find what you love and do that. If you love to jump rope, that can be your form of cardio. It is all about balance in every area of your life! Balance is the key to success so it is important to focus more on consistency and less on extremes.

To help people find this balance and understand how to incorporate health and fitness into their lives in a realistic manner, I have created a Lifestyle Balance Plan that is an 85 page layout of “no rules, only tools” to help you get into the best shape of your life for life. I have compiled all the tools I have used for myself and the success of my clients into one easy to download and follow plan. My lifestyle balance plan has been a huge success in helping people create the lifestyle habits that will help them reach their goals and maintain them for life. My all-inclusive Lifestyle Balance Diet Plan helps you build a solid foundation of knowledge and how to implement that knowledge into your daily life. It includes recipes, a diet and workout plan, tons of tools and tips such as on how to eat out, how to make healthy eating tasty, a grocery list, and much more. I highly suggest you check this out here: http://ginaaliotti.com/fitness-network/lifestyle-balance-plan/

FFFC:  Do you have any competitions or special events coming up?

A: At this time, I do not have any competitions in mind. I am currently pregnant and an embracing my healthy pregnancy journey. I am working on some projects that have not been released. You can join my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GinaAliotti and also sign up for my newsletter for more upcoming projects and news. http://ginaaliotti.com/fitness-network/newsletter/

FFFC:  How can our readers find you on the web or inquire about your services?

A; I can be found via facebook at www.Facebook.com/GinaAliotti and also by visiting my website at www.GinaAliotti.com. I am available via e-mail at [email protected].

Any questions or if I can be of any assistance to you, I would love to hear from you!

Thank you so much for featuring me on Femme Fitale Fit Club. Hugs, Gina Aliotti

www.GinaAliotti.com

www.Facebook.com/GinaAliotti

LIFESTYLE BALANCE PLAN: http://ginaaliotti.com/fitness-network/lifestyle-balance-plan/

Gina Aliotti’s Training DVD: http://on.fb.me/OylWjn

Gina Aliotti’s Store: http://ginaaliotti.com/shop/