Don’t be afraid of sprouts.

Did you know that Alfalfa sprouts contain every essential amino acid? They are also a great source of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, carotenes, chlorophyll, folic acid and phytoestrogens. Alfalfa sprouts make a great addition to salad, sandwiches, and wraps, or you can just enjoy them by themselves. 🙂

Gina Aliotti-Silva
IFBB Figure Professional

Cover girl Dianna Dahlgten offers a couple tips on getting started with modeling.

Hello, hello again everyone! Hope you are doing great!

One thing I have been getting asked alot lately is how do I get into modeling? If you want it… go get it but like anything, you gotta work for it. The easiest it to start online. Start by looking online and then ask yourself these questions…

What look do you offer?
Which genre of modeling do you want to be associated with?
Do you have head shots and a portfolio?
Do you have business cards and comp cards printed and ready to be handed out?

One of the best things I’ve found success with is networking. Get out and build your network. Meet people and interact.

A few things to think about when it comes to getting started. Have a great week everyone!

xoxo
Dd

Remember your mother always telling you to “Sit up straight, Stand tall… suck in your belly, chest out…”?

Don’t underestimate the importance of posture! Posture is key in everything we do from sitting in a chair, walking on a treadmill, lifting weights, standing on stage and even building our confidence! When you practice good posture, you actually feel more capable. How you carry yourself affects not only how others perceive you, but a great deal of how you feel in your own skin and your energy. Lift your head up. Get in the habit of lifting your abs up and in. Stand up tall. You will feel better instantly!

“Let us stand a little taller, if you don’t, you will never strengthen yourself” ~Gordon Hinckley

Gina Aliotti-Silva
www.ginaaliotti.net

Hello again everyone. This week’s tip is pretty simple but a good one… be professional! I say this quite a bit but I mean it in every aspect.

Here’s some examples of being unprofessional, so stay away from these scenarios! When a spokesmodel goes out to work at events, tradeshows, shoots, etc., most likely there is going to be a party afterward.

What would you do?
A) Go out and enjoy the free drinks… end up getting drunk.
or
B) Take a pass on the booze and stay sober.
????

Remember, you’ll likely you will be working again in the morning time and alcohol has a huge effect on not only how you feel but how you will look the next day. Many times on the 3rd day of an event I have seen models show up an hour or two late. All because they had a little too much fun the night before.  If you are on the job and around the people that you are working with stay professional. It’s okay to go out for a little bit and have a drink (meaning one not ten) if you can handle it but don’t feel pressured to stay out all night. You’ll look and feel better the next day.

XOXO
dd

Hello Everyone!
Hope you are having a great week! Pressure… We all have it at times but you don’t always have to. Make sure that when you are working you are always comfortable. If the media, camera man, videographer, photographer, etc., are pressuring you into doing something that you are not comfortable with then please do not do it! If you do, you will probably be disappointed, guilty, or even worse having it come back to haunt you months or even years later!

Treat your career like your baby!

I have made plenty of mistakes but I have learned from them! So take it from me! Say no if you are pressured in any way!

XOXO
dd

Are you a “topper off’er”… How well do you measure your food? Do you use a 1/2 cup but are one to go for the heaping half cup… Do you top off your tablespoon of nut butter??? Measuring your food is key to ensuring you are watching your servings size but how well do you measure??

A heaping 1/2 cup of oats compared to a measured 1/2 Cup… 1-2 meals a day, 7 days a week adds up to over 400 cals a week. That’s almost one pound in 8 weeks! Now let’s not even talk about the nut butter, which can easily add up to much more! 😉

Be sure to watch those “heaping” servings, a little here and a little there can definitely make a difference!

Gina Aliotti-Silva
IFBB Figure Professional

Dianna is back with her Tip of The Week. Check out what the Flex swimsuit cover girl has to say.

Helllloooo everyone!
I am hoping every one is doing great! Here is my tip for the week… Be Proud! I started off when I was 18 in underwear and lingerie modeling, My parents we not too happy about it but I reassured them that everything I was doing was in good taste! Now a few years down the road, my most recent cover is on Flex Magazine. I have worked very hard to get where I am now and one thing I have learned is ALWAYS work and make yourself happy with what you are doing. No shame, no embarrasement, can you take what you do home at the end of the day and show your new images to your loved ones!? If you can, then be PROUD and pat yourself on the back for your work.

XOX
DD

Plan your trip to the grocery store immediately after you have eaten your meal. Planning your grocery trips around your meal times will help you avoid impulse buying of things that may not be on your food plan. Everything looks so darn good when you are hungry so avoid the temptations and shop on a full stomach.

Gina

We all are familiar with the importance of our Omega 3 Fatty Acids and how essential they are to not only our fitness goals but our overall health! Flax seeds are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids but even higher in Omega 3’s, are Chia Seeds. Chia Seeds are the richest vegetable source for the essential omega -3 fatty acid and rich in antioxidants! Similar to Flax, simply, sprinkle them on your cereal, salads, stir-fry’s, shakes or even bake with them!

Have a great week!

Gina

IFBB Figure Pro Gina Aliotti’s Tip of the week…be prepared if you’re serious about fitness. Check it out.

With so many of us on the go all the time, whether we are traveling or just going through our daily lives, it is so important to prepare your meals, in advance, and carry them with you at all times! If you are serious about your fitness goals, this is going to be the key to your long term success… preparation! Now, no matter how prepared you may be with your meals perfectly weighed out and in their fancy dancy Tupperware containers, things still happen and you may find yourself without a meal! I highly suggest for these emergency situations, you keep a tub of protein powder in your car or a Ziploc bag of protein powder in your glove compartment! You never know when you may be out longer than you think, food could go bad or something else can come up! Better to be prepared and always have that convenient protein powder on hand! 🙂
Gina Aliotti

So we are all told to stay away from white flour and opt for whole fibrous grains, right!? Well then how do you get a hearty fibrous grainy Tortilla to fold!!?? While making a healthy burrito the other day, I realized this must be a common issue! Here is my little tip of the week… Simply place tortilla on a plate, add and evenly spread water over top, place another plate upside down over bottom plate and place in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and allow to steam! You then have a nice and soft tortilla that will fold without ripping!

Enjoy! ~G

It may not be Monday but the current cover girl of the FLEX swimsuit issue, Dianna Dahlgren is back for a beneficial modeling tip of the week.

Hey everyone!
I hope everyone is great! I have been traveling a lot lately so I haven’t been able to get you all tips, but I am home now so here is this week’s tip!

Model Release! This is very important when setting up shoots for yourself. It’s a legal contract between you and the photographer and all legal terms should be stated in it. This includes compensation or if you are trading for the photos and it also provides limitation or no limitation on what the photographer can do with the photos as well. Make sure you read it and ask questions, especially if you haven’t worked with the photographer before. This is complete protection for yourselves! I have had a nightmare photographer posting photos that he did not have a release for. Thank God for JM Manion to settle that! haha

Hope this helps!
xoxo
DD

Don’t think that just because it says, Zero Fat, Zero Carbs, Zero Saturated Fat and Zero Calories it’s truly Zero everything! I know how many people consume products thinking they are completely guilt free, think again There is a loophole in the system, Go Figure!!!

Products with less than 0.5 grams of fat, trans fat, carbs, calories, fat per serving are allowed to list their content as zero. The problem with this is if you eat more than one serving of a product with just a small amount of trans fat, you may end up consuming a significant amount.

You know that “No Calorie, No Fat Butter Spray”? Oh yes, thought it was too good to be true? It sure is!! That entire spray bottle has more than 900 calories and 90 grams of fat!!

Tip: Look for the words “partially hydrogenated” on ingredient labels. This means there are some trans fat present, even if the listed content is zero.
Have a great week!
Gina

Dianna “DD” Dahlgren is back with her tip of the week.

Hey everyone! I hope you’re doing great! For this week’s tip I want to talk about good ole CASH!

I never carry cash on me and always use my credit cards… unfortunately I have run into many problems because of it. Taxis, stores, supplies, etc… Sometimes these services require cash only. So now when I get ready for a booking, I ALWAYS make sure I have cash. Make sure to save your receipts for reimbursement!!
😉

Have a great week everyone!
Xoxo

I know we all love our peanut butter and are told Natural Nut butters are better but have you looked at your PB Jar lately?

Are the ingredient: Nuts and maybe Salt? If so, you are in the clear and your nut butter is truly “Natural”. There are so many nut butter out there that state “Natural” but look closer at the label to see the sugar and palm oil that is listed in the ingredients. True Natural Peanut Butter (or any nut butter) contains only peanuts, and maybe some salt. Your nut butter should separate and the old should be floating at the top before stirring it. If you do not have to stir it, is the palm oil, high in saturated fats that makes it solid. Read labels! The word “Natural” has no legal or qualitative meaning in advertising. If you are one of those that thinks Skippy is truly Natural, look again… It may sound nutty but it is the truth! Read your ingredients!

Gina Aliotti-Silva

Hey, hey everyone!
Hope you had a great weekend. I had fun at my bikini pro debut and now I’m focused on the Pittsburgh Pro that will be here soon!

Today’s tip… It’s a MUST to have some type of medium bag with you when traveling or going on shoots. Why? You need it for all your essentials. I have a carry-on bag and rollaround bag!  When I compete I always use my rollaround bag and when I go off on shoots I have a carry-on bag. For instance you might be shooting on a beach… can’t take your rollaround through the sand!  Makes it real tuff! These bags are VERY HANDY to throw your makeup, robe, outfits and ANYTHING into it that you will need for the day!

xoxo
dd

Newly wed Gina Aliotti-Silva checks in with her Tip of the Week.

So you think you are eating healthy ordering an egg white omelet, steamed veggies, chicken breast or oatmeal? If you are eating outside of the country (the USA that is)… you might think twice! I couldn’t help but catch Betty, the omelet maker, dousing my omelet with salt before serving it. Did you know that in Mexico, “steamed veggies” equates to soaked in butter… chicken breasts include rib meat and enough salt for a decade, and oatmeal is made with whole milk?! Hey, not saying you can’t go out of the country and eat healthy but you better be sure to ask for NO SALT and NO BUTTER. I learned the words plain plain plain can do the trick!! FYI– I would always opt to bringing your own oatmeal. There really is no way around the oats made with whole milk! While traveling it can be hard to eat like you do at home but the best thing to do is to be aware of your choices and do the best you can. An egg white omelet with salt is better than a cheese enchilada for breakfast, ehhhh?

HAVE A GREAT DAY

Gina Aliotti-Silva

Ladies… Hope everything is well this week!

Now that things are winding down for the MuscleContest Pro Bikini show,  I’m gathering all my things!! One thing that I’ve disliked with modeling is sometimes you got to spend money to make money!! But thank God some companies support models, make up artists and all the people involved in a shoot! MAC cosmetics has designed a pro card for their products to be discounted up to 40%!! All you have to do is fill out the application and send in your professional business card, head shots and a comp card with a check for $35 then vualaaa! They send you a card and you can use it at ANY pro store!! Happy make up shopping!!!

DD

Our weekly contributor, IFBB Pro Gina Aliotti has officially tied the knot. The new bride is now Gina Aliotti-Silva. G shared this photo from her destination wedding and tells me she stepped outside her box and went scuba diving. Might this be the new bride’s next sport? Congratulations Gina!

Visit ginaaliotti.net for great training tips and more.

You all have heard that fruit is a perfect supplement to your post workout meal, right!?  Well, have you ever tried eating apple sauce with your meal!?  My favorite post workout meal is either a protein shake or egg whites with oatmeal and my famous homemade applesauce.  Simple slice apples and place them in a crock pot with a touch of water, no calorie sweetener (of your choice), and cinnamon.  Allow to cook on low for several hours until soft and walaaaa a perfect homemade apple sauce that is delicious and acts as a perfect supplement to your post workout meal!

Enjoy!!

Hello everyone. I Hope everyone is doing great!

I was on a shoot over the weekend for FLEX magazine. Saturday night I went to Sephora and bought eye cream. I thought eh, I might need this one day even though I have never tried or used it! Well thank God I bought it! I woke up Sunday morning and BOOM… PUFFY EYES! EEEK! I’m so glad I bought it. I’m adding this to my list of essentials. Pick up Depuffing Eye Cream By Benefit, it works!
xoxo
DD

As I pack and prepare to leave for Cabo for my wedding, I am checking things off my packing list.  Even though we are staying at an all inclusive resort, don’t think that is going to mean I am not bringing my essentials.  This weeks tip is to “Always be prepared!”

Regardless of where you are headed or what you “think” will be available, you must always be prepared with your dry, “can’t ever go wrong” essentials such as your protein powder, almonds, and healthy bars!  Preparation is the key to success!  Hey, did you know that the reason oatmeal tastes so good in Mexico is because they use cream instead of water to prepare it? Yes, that is why I always leave the house prepared and ready with my healthy essentials! You never know what you are getting into, especially when leaving the country!

Gina Aliotti
IFBB Figure Pro

It’s that time of the week again. Muscle & Fitness Hers cover girl, Dianna Dahlgren shares another Monday Modeling Tip.

This week: CASTINGS and CALL BACKS
It is most important to be prepared when going to a casting or when you receive a callback! You want to be prepared at ALL times! Make sure you have your portfolio, comp cards, business cards, agent/ manager information, availability, etc. ALL HANDLED. What happens if you get a call back then you are booked for the shoot date? No point in going then! Always get details from your agent or manager, or point of contact on what the job is. If its a sporty job, then go casual and make sure to have a sports bra and shorts so they can have a better idea of your body. If its a business booking, then go in slacks, button up and heels! Remember appearance is always important!

Good luck everyone!
xoxo
dd

The current cover girl of Muscle & Fitness Hers, Dianna Dahlgren shares another modeling tip.

Hope everyone is doing great!

Now ladies a serious matter here! Modeling always isn’t the greatest life. I know, hard to believe right? Like…Travel, delays, to and from, basically hurry up and wait. Girls can get stressed within seconds so this is very important for me to say. Be a little selfish! You come first…PLEASE PAMPER YOURSELF! Since I am also working out constantly I have to remind myself to do something for me once a week or I will go bonkers! Do things like go get a massage!! ahhhhh after working alot… this is what I LOVE TO DO or pedicure and manicure… MMMM ask em to go extra tough on the massage part! haha, or every night relax before you go to sleep and JOURNAL! My journal is filled with my thoughts and headaches! This is very important cause if you have worked hard… you need a sighhhhh of relief once in a while! Now get to pampering girls!!

xoxo
dd

Dianna with her Muscle & Fitness hers cover.

As the heart of the competition season approaches and the Arnold is right around the corner, I wanted to share an important and key post contest tip. Remember when coming off a show to ease off of your program, slowly decreasing your cardio and slowly increasing foods and calories. If you do change things gradually and continue working out, eating clean and staying active, you will have no problems with coming off your contest prep and into lifestyle living! It is when you go from hero to zero that you may run into problems. Remember gradually come off your program and ease back into real life slow and steady to minimize any crazy increase in water and weight gain. Best of luck during the 2010 competition season!

“When a man is sufficiently motivated, discipline will take care of itself.”
– Sir Alexander Paterson 

Gina Aliotti
IFBB Figure Professional

Hellllloooo everyone!

 

Make sure to pack a variety of shooting heels! Clear, black, open toed, closed toed, heeled boots, etc! Sometimes the stylists’ picks don’t always please the client!

FOR EXAMPLE: Here is half my rack of shooting heels!

Everyone have a great week!
xoxo
DD