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Thank you for visiting my website. . . This is pretty much all you
ever need to know about me! (almost)! - C.
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My
Home
Where
is Home?:
Currently I make my home in Springfield, Massachusetts.
New
England is a great place to live.
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Background:
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in child and family studies from
the University of New Hampshire and hold a job as a full time social
worker My area of expertise is working with troubled teens. I have
done community based volunteer work for Junior Achievement as well
as with alternative schools in their fitness classes. |
I
am also a certified personal trainer, and work part time for
Protan. I attend the competitions and assist the athletes backstage
at the national level shows. This is literally "hands on
" work but I find it very rewarding. The competitors really
appreciate being taken care of by one of their own. I have met
such awesome people doing this.
This is a labor of love and it has given me a great opportunity
to meet some awesome people. It is tough to warm up and prep
so many athletes..but we all know that women bodybuilders need
sponsorship and support. |
Carla
Salotti and Nicki Jamrog
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Growing
up, I was involved in classical dance and cheer leading I started
working out after college just to "tone up". It wasn't
until I started training with a male friend from high school that
I started seeing muscles! I also was watching my boyfriend at the
time, Jose Santiago, start to train and eating like a bodybuilder.
I watched him compete and do very well.
While
visiting Jose, I saw a picture in his trainer's office of Mimi Hollman,
who I thought was a fitness competitor. She was muscular and feminine
and just beautiful. When I found out she was a bodybuilder I was
shocked. My idea of what a female bodybuilder was at that time did
not look anything like her. Mimi and I became friends and remain
so today. . .She was inspirational. . .thanks MIMI!
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Carla
& Jose 2004 |
Tim
& Brandie Gardner |
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Jose
introduced me to Tim Gardner of BODY*TECH
and he offered all the support I would need to enter my first
show. I have worked with Tim ever since I decided to compete. I would
not do a show without him. He believes in hard work, basics, and determination.
I never would have imagined I could compete in bodybuilding without
their support and encouragement.
Jose, motivated me and got me through what I thought was the hardest
thing I had ever done. I still feel most complete on stage to this
day with them both behind me. |
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Competition:
Tim
explained to me about the Team Universe competition I knew
right away that was my goal. . . To compete internationally.
After winning the Team Universe in 2001 my dream was
coming true. . .And I began preparing to go to Rio!
I so motivated. I held my diet for two long months and continued
my pre-contest training.
Then
came 9-11 . . .and the world changed. . .The USA could not
send us to to Rio for security reasons. There would be no
competition for me.
My
dream of competing on an international stage was gone. . .Just
like the towers. . .My heart was broken.
Tim
Asked me to guest pose for him at his show in Florida in October
of 2001. I was still in great condition. . .So I went to Tampa.
I was happy to see my trainer and friends. It took away some
of the sting.
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I
competed at the USA in 2002 but my heart wasn't in it so after
that I took a year off to reassess, find a balance. I took
up contact Cardio kickboxing with shisho, Red
Dragon, Maritza Miranda. She is truly inspirational.
This
training kept me lean throughout the year as well as helped
me to gain size in my shoulders (an area I felt I needed improvement
on). It also helped give me a balance to my training regime
that I so desperately needed.
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I
decided to compete as a bodybuilder one more time at Masters
National's (2004) before switching to figure. Well. . .
I
won the whole show, much to my surprise.
This propelled me to go to the North Americans to see how
I would fair there. After winning my class there and being
on stage with such top level amateurs, I felt I had improved
enough to go to Nationals in 2005 and try to break the top
five. This is a show I never thought I was qualified to compete
in due to my small stature.
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to Top
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Support
Team:
Besides the people that I have mentioned above who have been
instrumental in my journey I need to also mention my parents
and best friend, Nicki. My parents were very skeptical about
my journey in bodybuilding, not understanding the time commitment
or diet but they hung in there and have become my best supporters.
They help financially and are always there for me emotionally.
Because
of health reasons they aren't able to come to my shows. My
mom came to the first few but isn't able to anymore. It is
an empty spot in my night not being able to see them there
but I know they are with me, always!
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Bodybuilding
Thoughts:
For
me..bodybuilding is a journey, and a very powerful one. Although
you have your support team, it is very individual.
I have learned that it has everything to do with inner
strength and heart and not much to do with how much you can
lift.
It
takes heart, drive and tenacity you or you could never get
through the endless hours of Cardio or dieting. You have to
sacrifice what is needed to be your best. It has helped me
to learn what a really strong woman I am and who really is
there for me.
It has proven to me that you
are only as SMALL as you THINK you are!
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Carla at 2004 North American
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I got into this sport understanding that it is totally subjective
and what may make me happy with how I look may not actually win shows.
I don't judge others by what they choose to do nor do I disrespect
in anyway the hard work that all women bodybuilders put into their
own personal journeys. However, when I first got into this there was
discussion of a more "feminine" look. And now there is the
new "less muscularity" criteria. . .I don't feel that this
is a totally bad thing for woman's bodybuilding, but I do believe
that women can build muscle and still be pretty without being Barbie
dolls.
But let's be real. . .women's bodybuilding may never be totally mainstreamed
(some people are horrified by me and I am only 110 lbs.!), no matter
what is done.
But I do believe that keeping the look feminine can only be a benefit
to the sport. |
| Nicki,
is my Leo sister, and best friend. She is always there with me helping
me get prepared for the show, whether it be the last few workouts
or the hours prior or sushi 12 weeks out! I wouldn't want to step
on stage without her. She is the most positive vibe in the house! |
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Future:
I want to stand on the stage at nationals and be judged as
one of the best lightweights in the country. Besides that
though I want the people to know me as the energetic, smart,
dependable and generous person that I am, and be respected
by my athlete peers.
In
November of 2005 I did just that and bested a very competitive
field in Atlanta. I won my class and earned IFBB pro eligibility.
It was a surreal experience and one that I will never forget.
As
I looked to my "pro career" I realized that my goals
in entering a
contest may change but the ultimate goal would be the same:
that is to help prove that Female Bodybuilders can still be
pretty and marketable.
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The
biggest goal I wanted to achieve in 2006 was to be able to bring
my mom to see me compete again. She hadn't been able to be with
me since 2001 for health reasons. With that in mind I choose the
Atlantic City Pro to make my pro debut at. It was held on Sept.
24, 2006 and my mom was there with me.
Tim
and Brandy and Nicki were there as well and I had an absolute blast!!
I placed 15 out of 27 women and there were NO weight classes. I
was able to perform a special "Fosse-like" routine for
my mother to "hey big Spender" and I got a lot of accolades
for it. I did make some rookie mistakes and wasn't real happy with
my condition but; live and learn!
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I am now prepping for the Sacramento Pro on 2/24/07. John Lindsey
has added female bodybuilding. There will be 2 weight classes
as well with the cut off being 130 lbs. Keeping it "pretty
and feminine" is still the ultimate goal as well as inspiring
women not to be afraid of the weights! |
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