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36 || MOST FITNESS || MAY 2016CrossFit class focusing on strength and then conditioning. I workout 5-6 days a week and 2 of those days I will workout twice a day. MFM: You grew up playing soccer and lacrosse, how do those contact sports compare to fitness competitions?NL: After Soccer and Lacrosse I competed in Bikini competitions. It didn%u2019t exactly fill the competitive void I was missing in my life. I always loved the physicality of a contact sport. I think that%u2019s why I fell in love with CrossFit. It is challenging and every workout tests your limits physically and mentally. MFM: What is your proudest fitness accomplishment? Why is it so special for you?NL: My proudest fitness accomplishment thus far is having the ability to reach thousands of people through all social media platforms and hearing them tell me that I motivate them or I have changed their lives. It is truly amazing and positively beautiful to know that I have affected someone in a way to make them want to chase their dreams or just be healthy for their kids. It is really cool. MFM: What are some of your own personal fitness goals for the rest of 2016?NL: To become a more well-rounded athlete. I want to become stronger mentally as well as physically and I want to help people achieve their goals in the process. MFM: What music do you listen to when you work out? Any specific songs or artists that help you psych yourself up?NL: So I have a playlist on Spotify called %u201cChalk Sweat%u201d and it contains a lot of faced paced EDM/crazy sick beats. I will usually flip flop between that and some rap/hip hop station on Spotify. MFM: How has competing in fitness changed the way you see fitness and health in general?NL: Before doing Bikini competitions I really didn%u2019t know anything about the beauty of what lifting weights could do to your body aesthetically or the health effects of certain things I ate or drank. It was a huge eye opener for me. I definitely have seen a difference with physical performance as well as aesthetic appearance now that I watch what I eat.MFM: Who is someone from the fitness community that you admire or look up to? Why?NL: In general, I really look up women who are Passionate about their fitness. It doesn%u2019t have to just be CrossFit, it can be Yoga or Calisthenics or straight up Bodybuilding. I don%u2019t care what it is, if you are working your ass off and it shows I admire that and that motivates me. A few people who have inspired me along the way: My Mom, Mia Hamm, Dominique Dawes, Nathalia Melo, Christmas Abbott, Andrea Ager, Miranda Oldroyd. MFM: Nutrition is a very important part of health. Do you have any favorite healthy meals or snacks?NL: I am obsessed with Power Crunch Protein Bars. And I love dipping apples in Almond Butter. MFM: Do you ever have any %u201ccheat days%u201d? If so, what do you do or eat on these days?NL: I do have Cheat Days. I usually love eating Cereal like Cap%u2019n Crunches Crunch Berries, Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Lucky Charms. I also love Pizza, Donuts, Italian Food and Thai Food. MFM: What advice do you have for readers who want to begin participating in fitness competitions? What is the first step? What changes can they start making to their daily lives/routines? NL: Competing can be a scary thing. It exposes your weakness and that is probably why most people chicken out. However, it also exposes strengths, which can empower you and motivate you. You have to WANT to become a better version of yourself. The first step is to Stop Making Excuses for why you CAN%u2019T do something and Start Making Reasons for why you CAN. If you want to compete, JUST DO IT! Take risks. You will be glad you did. MFM: Has there ever been a time when you felt like you wanted to give up on your fitness goals? If so, how did you work through it? What would you tell someone else in this situation?NL: There have been plenty of times when I just wanted to quit fitness, but this isn%u2019t just about fitness, it%u2019s about my life and my physical and mental health. If I quit fitness I am more than likely going to quit on a lot of other things in my life. Fitness has always been there for me no matter what changes I have gone through in my life. It has made me stronger mentally and physically. It is hard, but it is also so very rewarding. It will be the only thing you ever have in the world when you have nothing. Stick with it.