Bikini Competitor Cayte Stipo

age : 30

bday : 05/31/1977

bplace : New Jersey

residence : Wanaque, NJ

heightweight : 5'10" 145lbs.

I just started competing this season at the 2007 Fitness Atlantic.

I have been continuously inspired by my husband, Joe. He has consistently gone after his dreams no matter what the obstacle. He's opened his own business, acheived a black belt in Jui Jitsu and is looking to return to competing at the end of this year after recovering from shoulder surgery last year. I'm inspired by the prospect of change and I have learned so much about myself during this journey and look forward to learning so much more.

I've done the Fitness Atlantic and will continue to compete in this in the coming years. I plan to compete this year in the Fitness NY and in the Fitness America.

My husband cheered me on to go after this dream and that's when I learned about Cathy Savage, Jodi Jones and their team. They have been so instrumental in my success with all of their support and knowledge.

I still train under Cathy and Jodi and I continue to learn from them every day. I recently convinced my sister in law to join Cathy's team as well and we are each other's cheerleaders.

I work out mostly at my gym, Matrix Fitness but I also have a pretty well equiped gym at home. I hope to return to training in jui jitsu once in a while to keep things interesting.

I use stick with MHP and BSN products for all of my supplements and protein powders. I also take Shaklee vitamins-they are really geared towards the needs of an athlete.

I've acheived so much since starting my training in October, 2006. I've lost about 15 lbs and 7% body fat. My energy level has tripled and I know that I am so much more even keeled-even on the most stressful days.

Preparing for the competitions has given me a sense of accomplishment more meaningful than any other "diet" could ever have done. I feel so much more able to take on challenges head on-now matter how daunting it may seem at first.

I want to continue to compete in Bikini division of FAP competions and improve in my placements. I was able to place second in my very first competion but there is always room for improvement! I would also like to compete in the Model Division and eventually work to compete in Fitness.

I eat a mostly clean diet consisting of about 5 meals a day. I eat tons of fruits and veggies and of course a lot of protein. I love cheese but keep it to a minimum. To keep sane, I have one cheat meal a week, as long as I'm not too close to a competition. It's always worth it because it's great meal with my Italian family!!!

I do a 3-4 day split that consists of super and giant sets to work 2-3 muscle groups per workout. My cardio consists of 4 days of cardio about 40- 60 minutes each. I mix it up between kickboxing, boxing and lower impact cardio like the eliptical.

I'm a psychotherapist by profession and I work with children and adolescents who are depressed. I also work with the elderly that are homebound and offer in-home therapy to them and their families. I absolutely love what I do and feel blessed to have the opportunity to help people everyday. However, my job is very demanding, emotionally and mentally and training is my own personal therapy.

I am currently working towards my next level of licensure for my profession and hope to sometime in the next year open my own private practice of psychotherapy. I'm working towards getting my personal training and nutritional certifications because I would like to combine these practices to treat my patients on a more holistic level-mind, body and spirit.

I was a swimmer all through school until a shoulder injury sidelined me. I also played volleyball competitively and on a club team.

I owe so much to my husband Joe, who has stood by me from the very moment we met. I feel like I've grown up with him even though we've only been together for 5 years. I have felt such wonderful support from both my family and from my husband's even though they are all scattered across the country. Along with these great cheerleaders, my friends have been there all along, traveling to shows and keeping me laughing when I least feel like it.

I love to sing, dance, and anything else having to do with performing. My husband and I golf whenever we get the chance and our summers are spent on our boat on Lake Hopatcong, NJ hanging out with family and friends.

Because I work with children and adolescents, I have to work after school and late into the night to accomdate their schedule. In order to do that and make sure that I also have time to spend with my husband, I have had to juggle a busy schedule, but haven't we all?? These challenges have all been part of the learning process.

We all have challenges to keeping up with our fitness goals and I'm certainly not immune. I recently hurt both my shoulder and my ankle to the point of having to decrease my training. I took care of it while making sure that I didn't undermine my progress. I am lucky to have a good orthopedist and a husband who knows his way around taking care of an injury.

Cayte Stipo Pics

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