I am so proud and honored to say I am a part of this team, and would welcome any one who decided to come join us!
My name is Danielle Brenner, and I started taking Lindsay’s fitness classes about four years ago. My sister introduced me to Lindsay after reading about her in Oxygen magazine. I had no intentions of stepping on a stage to compete in a fitness competition at that point. Taking the classes was enough for me, and I did so for a year and a half, before taking the plunge into the sport of competing. I decided to enter my first competition, which was in April 2012, because I needed something to completely engross my mind and body into, while trying to get over a break-up that devasting me emotionally. I was with my ex-boyfriend for only ten months, but was led to believe that it was going to be forever. There were discussions of marriage and children, and we had gone ring shopping. He abruptly ended the relationship, thus devasting me and turning my world upside down.
Having the NY Divas and the goal of a competition was one of the ways I ultimately got over that break-up. The support of the girls on the team, the constant reminder of an upcoming competition and the rigors of the training and dieting were exactly what I needed to get me through. In achieving my goals, I lost 30 pounds, learned the importance of clean eating and nutrition, and how to workout effectively and supplement my training. I recently competed in my second fitness competition, also with The WBFF, this past November. I brought my personal best to that stage again and made improvements in my physique from last April. I adore the NY Divas and each and every member on this team! We workout together, do social events outside of the workouts, compete together and support one another through competitions when not competing. In addition, if one of us is having a difficult day and/or going through a difficult time in our lives, we lean on each other for support and have the DIVA page to communicate to one another. I am so proud and honored to say I am a part of this team, and would welcome any one who decided to come join us!
Danielle Brenner
I strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle by working out regularly and eating a variety of well-balanced meals to ensure that I stay strong, focused and fit.
Research clearly shows that nutrition and physical activity are directly linked to academic achievement. As a Principal in an elementary school in Westchester, New York, I incorporate and encourage physical activities for my staff and students on a daily basis.
The job of principal comes with many demands and can be stressful. I strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle by working out regularly and eating a variety of well-balanced meals to ensure that I stay strong, focused and fit.
As I strive for new goals, I am proud of the ones I have recently obtained. I competed in a fitness competition and placed second in the category of fitness model. I entered a 90 day challenge with Body By ViSalus to help me with my fitness goals. I share this with my students as they stare with awe what their principal can accomplish in a mere day.
In keeping with this added focus on better living, my next goal seeks to implement a variety of healthy food choices in our schools coupled with an expanded and correlative emphasis on physical activities. It’s really quite simple: encourage everyone to become or remain active in various and sundry ways while adopting a lifestyle that necessitates healthy meals. Yes, the research among children is substantial, and it shows us the rewards: academic success at discernible levels. To be sure, it’s a win-win.
Ilene A. Bichler
Lindsay is a true born leader and one of the most inspirational women I have met to date.
I can honestly say that joining the NY DIVAS has been one of the best decisions I have made thus far. The experience from day one has been absolutely life changing. I have received an endless amount of support, encouragement, and guidance from day one from my Lindsay and all of the girls.
I wake up at 6AM to be at the train by 7AM to be at Diva session by 10AM on my day off-that means DIVA sessions are beyond worth it to me. They are the perfect way to start off my weekend as I get to spend my morning with an amazing group of genuine woman and leave their feeling as if I have had the best workout of my life (each time).
Lindsay is a true born leader and one of the most inspirational women I have met to date. I am truly lucky to have her and the DIVAS in my life. Love you girls!
WBFF Pro Kelly Smith
If you have an interest in fitness modeling you will save yourself so much time and get a direct route to your goals by Letting Lindsay guide you through the process.
When I first meet Lindsay I was a brand new to competing. She had a beautiful spirit and tons of charisma. I new I wanted to work with her. As my lobe of competing grew into fitness modeling Lindsay coached me through all things modeling. Lindsay has an ability to bring things out of women they never new they had. She guided me through the process of what it takes to model, and more importantly how to network within the industry.
She took me through the process of photo shoots including outfit selection, posing, photo selection, how to and who to submit the photos to. Lindsay has a great knowledge and phenomenal contacts in the fitness and modeling industry. She works harder for her clients than for herself. If you have an interest in fitness modeling you will save yourself so much time and get a direct route to your goals by Letting Lindsay guide you through the process.
WBFF Pro Gretchen Coley
The workout was like nothing I had ever experienced, brutal, gut wrenching and absolutely exhilirating.
When we wake up 1st thing in the morning, I am not sure how many of us think “today could change my entire life”. I am almost positive that when most of us go to a new workout class they dont think “this class is going to change my life”. On May 7, 2011 I found myself going from NYC to Mammaroneck, NY for a Bootcamp class. Myself a personal trainer – and only along for the ride in an effort to try and connect a friend and an acquaintance whom had common interests, could have never possibly imagined what was to follow. The class, held in a dance studio, filled with extremely friendly girls all excitedly dreading the work out that was about to begin. The workout was like nothing I had ever experienced, brutal, gut wrenching and absolutely exhilirating. After all the girls then went and put on their “cinderella” heels. They began to strut around the room with a graceful ease, like something you would see coming down the runways of a Victorias Secret show…I didn’t know exactly how I would fit in to something like this, but I was intrigued and I wanted in! I soon came to find out each girls story, where they had come from, the progress they had made, what their goals and dreams were… The encouragement and support from the Divas to do “a show” was overwhelming – and I wanted some of that “sparkle” that I would see in each one of them as they prepared to hit the stage. On August 20th I began preparations for my 1st show. On November 4th I was awarded my Pro Card with The WBFF. There is a lot in this life that I don’t know, or have yet to learn – but one thing I do know, My success is absolutely owed to the love, support and guidance that each and every one of those girls gave to me, and continue to give. We laugh as a team, we cry as a team and we forge ahead and through as a team. My journey, even though it has just begun, and has been on a bit of an accelerated course, I hope will continue on with each and every one these girls by my side. Otherwise, it just wouldn’t be as much fun…
WBFF Pro Ashley Chapps
I am grateful to be apart of such an amazing group!
I do not think I could forget my first NY Diva session. I was anxious, scared, excited, overwhelmed, a total and complete mix of emotion. It wasn’t until Lindsay came into the room and introduced herself, that I felt a sense of calm come over me. Her huge warm smile along with her hug, they’re the best, literally made me feel so comfortable. From there, I knew my Saturdays would be ‘my day’. My day to get a great workout in, my day to be surrounded by amazing women, my day to learn my sport and my day to gain the confidence and strength to grace the stage. The NY Divas has become such a part of me that I really couldn’t imagine my life without them. It has been a pleasure watching the process we have all gone through, the laughs, the tears, but more importantly we have had each other to lean on. I can truly say that I have gained so much confidence and it is not just about stepping on stage, it has transcended into other aspects of my life. Sometimes a goal of mine may seem too big or grand, but I know that I can reach out to one of my Divas and they are there to remind me that I can achieve anything. Saturday sessions are much more than just a workout, it’s what I look forward to during a hectic week, it’s why I continue to push myself during my workouts, it’s about wanting to be around confident, classy, sassy and real women! I am grateful to be apart of such an amazing group!
Renee Rapeti
I am so excited to be featured this month. This means so much to me. I never thought I would be asked to write about myself to inspire others. I have been friends with Lindsay Messina for about 10 years and ever since I’ve met her she has been into fitness. I have always looked up to her and the way she motivates people. I am so happy to have her as my coach along with Jennifer Clark.
When I was younger I used to work out and stay fit but as I got older it seemed that I just didn’t have the time. I have 3 full time jobs as many of you do 1- housewife 2- mom and 3rd my full time job, 40hrs a week sometimes more – Monday through Friday. This past Christmas I looked at myself and took some pictures and saw how much my body has changed within the past 10 years. I have joined gyms, classes, gone on diets on and off for the past few years and no matter what I did nothing helped because I could not find the time to be consistent. I could not lose a pound and lost all my muscle. The number 1 excuse, I HAVE NO TIME. I look at pictures of other beautiful fitness models and read about how they have changed their lives by working out and eating better. I actually started to feel miserable about myself and took it out on the people I loved the most, my family. I was feeling stressed all the time. I was taking care of everyone else’s needs and hardly no time for myself. Always feeling so tired every day, I was not happy with the way I looked. I had no motivation any more but I knew I had to do something because I am number 1 and if I’m not happy I will not be able to make the people around me happy so I decided to change and do something about it. There IS time for yourself. You have to make time. Now I’m one of those people that will tell you (If I can do it so can YOU!!!) You have to believe in yourself. I’m not where I want to be yet but I’m working hard and the more I work at it the happier it makes me. My youngest son, has recently told me how much happier I am and he is so glad to have his old mom back. My husband loves to see me smile and feeling good about myself. I have such great support. The best thing I ever did was write to Lindsay and send her my pictures and ask for her advice. I told her how I felt and she said she had a program that if I really want to change she will help me change. Becoming part of the Diva Club has been the best decision I have made. I remember telling Lindsay, 2015 is a big year for me. I will be celebrating my big 50 and by the time my birthday gets here in July I want to be in the best shape of my life. She has made me believe that and I know I can do it. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s how you feel and what you make of yourself. I just started my 2nd month of my 12 week transformation and I’m so excited to see my final results.
Here is one of my favorite quotes:
TODAY IS MY TOMORROW
IT’S UP TO ME TO SHAPE IT
TO TAKE CONTROL
AND SEIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY
THE POWER IS IN THE CHOICES
I MAKE EACH DAY
I EAT WELL, I LIVE WELL
I SHAPE ME
It’s all YOU!
Thank you Divas for making a believer out of me.
Gigi Agostinelli
I absolutely LOVE diva sessions.
We have so much fun together and Lindsay really makes it worth while. I drive an hour to Mamaroneck to make her classes each Saturday- that’s how amazing it is! I’ve known Lindsay since high school and I reconnected with her through Facebook about 2 1/2 years ago. I started going to diva sessions just to see her and I met some really amazing women. I only did the fitness hour and watched the posing hour because I wasn’t planning on competing. The girls kept telling me to bring heels and I never would…I finally broke down and brought a pair of heels!! I was extremely shy at first but the girls were so supportive. That’s another amazing thing about the NY Divas!!! They aren’t competitive- we help and support each other through thick and thin!!! Even though I said I wasn’t going to compete, I found myself at my first fitness competition here in NY and crazy as it sounds I won first place in the model round- all because of the NY Diva sessions and Ms. Lindsay Messina. I said I was going to continue competing until my first pregnancy, which finally happened. And let me tell you how blessed I was to share my great news with the girls- they were so happy for me some of them actually cried! I can’t wait to get back to Lindsay’s sessions with class and sass in June! I love you girls.
Jennie Randacciu
I am a wife and mom of 2 awesome kids! After kids I struggled for 10 years with yo yo dieting weight gain and loss and having microwave mentality, I wanted the quick fix, but that didn’t work out so well. In November 2011, I began “my get me back journey”, and I had already shed 35 lbs prior to the start of my journey and from November 2011-April 2012 shed another 40lbs.
I had to get some things right in my head! My husband has been super supportive and encouraged me to reach my goals. Long story short, I social media stalked Lindsay Messina for a year and then finally went to a NC workshop! From there I started my competition prep journey and competed in my first competition in Las Vegas in November 2014. During the entire prep process The Divas Team was so supportive and Lindsay is an incredible coach and friend! Excited for round two this spring and see where my journey continues to take me!
I also wanted to add that life is too short to not live it and love it and love the skin you’re in!
Misty Rollins
After years of struggling with my weight fluctuating from normal to obese, I finally decided to invest in myself and seek professional help. I had researched many online programs and trainers but when I came across Lindsay Messina’s website I knew this was the right one for me. Her overwhelming accomplishments in the fitness industry spoke volumes of her expertise and her respectable image inspired me like no other woman in the industry.
I joined Lindsay’s “Get Messina Fit” program in February 2014 with aspirations to finally compete in my very first bikini competition. I had dreamed of competing for over 10 years! Everything from being a full-time student, working full-time, unhealthy relationships, injury, laziness, and lack of confidence, motivation and commitment continuously kept me from reaching my goals. The GMF program taught me the necessary skills I needed to make better decisions about my health and got me back on track mentally with the help of our private GMF Facebook group. All of the women in the group supported and motivated one another daily with their progress. We shared our struggles and celebrated each other’s triumphs. Within 5 months, I made tremendous changes in my body composition losing 2 pant sizes and gaining an unthinkable amount of strength!
Toward the end of my GMF program, I committed to competing in my very first bikini competition (Fitness America Championships in Las Vegas). In June 2014 I attended Lindsay’s Fitness Diva Competition Prep Workshop and my life has never been the same since! The lessons I learned, bonds that were created, and confidence I gained that weekend will forever be remembered as a major turning point in my life. At the workshop, Lindsay, Gretchen, and The Fitness Divas made me realize that I do deserve to have it all and that together we will make it happen! From that point on, my goals became real, attainable, and all the more meaningful.
I joined The Fitness Divas team in July 2014 when I began my competition prep for Fitness America. Throughout my competition prep journey, Lindsay and The Divas provided continuous support, reassurance, and guidance that enabled me to stay focused and positive when I was in doubt. These were things that I never had before and honestly I feel that they are single handedly responsible for my transformation. I was tired of giving up on myself and with The Divas encouragement, giving up was not an option. Our private Diva Facebook page motivated me beyond belief. All of our coaches, WBFF pros, and amateur competitors were always promoting each other. I am so thankful to be a part of such a successful, empowering group of women! They are all such remarkable role models.
In November 2014, my teammates and I proudly represented The Fitness Divas on the Fitness America stage in Las Vegas and it was truly an amazing experience! I competed in the best physical condition I have ever been in and was overwhelmed with emotion afterward. During competition prep, I lost an additional pant size (from size 8 to size 2) and for the first time in all my fitness endeavors over the years I saw my abs! I made so many special memories with my coach and teammates that weekend. Our team continues to grow in strength and sisterhood and our coaches continue to strive to give us all the opportunity to reach our goals, be successful, lead by example and make a difference in the lives of others! Words cannot begin to describe how grateful I am to be a part of The Fitness Divas. I would not be the woman I am today if Lindsay Messina and these lovely ladies had not come into my life!
With Class & Sass,
Nicole Kristi Riojas
