Grit and Grace

This is my journey towards finding my joy, health, and strength through fitness by gracefully transforming into a strong woman with GRIT and GRACE. Find your own inner GRIT and GRACE while gracefully transforming.

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This picture reminds me of all the fine details that’s so important in Bodybuilding. The more I continue on in this sport, the more I realize the importance of details, symmetry, balance, timing and most of all patience. The hundreds of hours in the gym and most importantly out of the gym that contributes to a physique is so critical. All of these ingredients are needed all while trying to balance life. . . When I first started in the quarantine, it was pretty challenging finding the connection to my muscle using bands. I focused on slowly moving through the rep to find the muscle I wanted to contest. It definitely took time to get used to. I’ve learned to think about muscle movements, what is activating or what muscle is engaging too much. This makes all the difference in the world with muscle development, balance and making sure I get the most out of each rep. . . In life or in Bodybuilding, change never comes quickly or easily. Today and always, we must celebrate ourselves! Celebrate our changes, the strength it takes to change, and the courage that it takes to do so. . . “Bodybuilding is an art, your body is the canvas, weights are your brush and nutrition is your paint. We all have the ability to turn a self-portrait into a masterpiece.” -Kai Greene. . . 📸 @auroraphoto . . #sarahschillingfitness #grit #grace #gritandgrace #fitness #backday #gracefultransformations #relentless #personaltrainer #nutrition #bodybuilding #fitnesslife #lifestyle #coaching #journey #gymmotivation #transformation #athomeworkouts. (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCPv6M4ATE0/?igshid=1j75oq003ikuq

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Find your inner GRIT and GRACE. Gracefully Transform! Always Stepping Forward With Grit And Grace. Facing Obstacles With Power, Inner Strength, and Poise. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness and Graceful Transformations is about to transform! . #sarahschillingfitness #gritandgrace #inspire #fitness #motivation #strength #gym #inspiration #bodybuilding #gracefultransformations #relentless. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness Graceful Transformations www.gritwithgrace.online (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB_196Ugls9/?igshid=1nwqmm1rfy08k

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Grit and Grace: Deadlifting is by far one of my favorite lifts because it reminds me of rowing and POWER! It is all an encompassing movement involving every body part and muscle. . . The Deadlift: The ultimate test of strength. A simple concept that is anything but simple. As in life, to succeed you need to combine all of your skills and desires. Every other lift can be symbolic of a part of a journey, but the deadlift is the entire journey. The grip. Visualize your goal and grasp it. The legs: begin with the strongest part of yourself. The pull: when the journey becomes difficult you continue to push but now with all you have. The lockout: the final push that overcomes any remaining doubt of your success. The elation: no sooner than the bar returns to the floor you CELEBRATE your success yet already begun to visualize the next journey. . . Swipe ◀️◀️◀️ to see the progression. . . 📸 auroraphotography . . #sarahschillingfitness #grit #grace #gritandgrace #gracefultransformations #fitness #lifestyle #weightloss #power #deadlift #backday #bodybuildingtraining #relentless (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB84iUVAa4W/?igshid=jthg182izjpg

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Grit and Grace: Behind the Scenes of my Fitness Endeavors. This post is dedicated to my husband Mark, my family, friends, and coaches. I once learned from my first Bodybuilding Coach that “It takes a community to raise a Bodybuilder.” There’s a small community of people behind the scenes that help me every single day. Thank you to all of my family, friends and coaches who have touched my life, provided support, love, motivation, and inspiration. You are all in my heart and I am so grateful for you everyday! Thank you for cheering for me at my competitions, lifting me up and providing me with words of wisdom when I needed it the most. I am so grateful and my heart is full. There are too many people to write about, however, I will tag you all! . This is a picture of Mark, my husband, and my beautiful girl, Bella Canela during the quarantine. We would take about two to three walks a day together. Mark has supported my Bodybuilding dreams for three and a half years. He is one of those people who you may not see, however, without him, I would not have the privilege of being an athlete in this amazing sport. From coming home from fasted cardio and having my protein pancake made to sacrificing dinners because I had to eat my diet, he is always there. He is always there to prepare my meals when I am too tired to cook my turkey and make my rice. Mark even grocery shops and knows the foods I need for my diet. He has done my progress pictures each week and is so patient when I am not happy with how a particular pose looks and we have to retake it! He is always there to bring reason to the days and nights of tears because I am so tired or I am questioning my progress. He makes financial sacrifices with me so I can have a Bodybuilding Coach, a Posing Coach, a Trainer, and all of the supplements that I need. Mark is the first person to give me a hug when I get off the stage to tell me how beautiful I was. Even in quarantine when I had to reach a certain amount of steps, Mark would always ask “how many steps do you have left? He would always help me get there. . 📸 @auroraphoto . #gritandgrace #sarahschillingfitness #family #friends #fitness #lifestyle https://www.instagram.com/p/CB6Lc7DA12t/?igshid=qbo5y133tng2

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Grit and Grace: Behind the Scenes of my Fitness Endeavors. This post is dedicated to my husband Mark, my family, friends, and coaches. I once learned from my first Bodybuilding Coach that “It takes a community to raise a Bodybuilder.” There’s a small community of people behind the scenes that help me every single day. Thank you to all of my family, friends and coaches who have touched my life, provided support, love, motivation, and inspiration. You are all in my heart and I am so grateful for you everyday! Thank you for cheering for me at my competitions, lifting me up and providing me with words of wisdom when I needed it the most. I am so grateful and my heart is full. There are too many people to write about, however, I will tag you all! . This is a picture of Mark, my husband, and my beautiful girl, Bella Canela during the quarantine. We would take about two to three walks a day together. Mark has supported my Bodybuilding dreams for three and a half years. He is one of those people who you may not see, however, without him, I would not have the privilege of being an athlete in this amazing sport. From coming home from fasted cardio and having my protein pancake made to sacrificing dinners because I had to eat my diet, he is always there. He is always there to prepare my meals when I am too tired to cook my turkey and make my rice. Mark even grocery shops and knows the foods I need for my diet. He has done my progress pictures each week and is so patient when I am not happy with how a particular pose looks and we have to retake it! He is always there to bring reason to the days and nights of tears because I am so tired or I am questioning my progress. He makes financial sacrifices with me so I can have a Bodybuilding Coach, a Posing Coach, a Trainer, and all of the supplements that I need. Mark is the first person to give me a hug when I get off the stage to tell me how beautiful I was. Even in quarantine when I had to reach a certain amount of steps, Mark would always ask “how many steps do you have left? He would always help me get there. . 📸 @auroraphoto . #gritandgrace #sarahschillingfitness #family #friends #fitness #lifestyle #graditude #fitnessjourney (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB6KoAWgbAv/?igshid=16g6ireshhol5

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Find your inner GRIT and GRACE. Gracefully Transform! Always Stepping Forward With Grit And Grace. Facing Obstacles With Power, Inner Strength, and Poise. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness and Graceful Transformations is about to transform! . #sarahschillingfitness #gritandgrace #inspire #fitness #motivation #strength #gym #inspiration #bodybuilding #gracefultransformations #relentless. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness Graceful Transformations www.gritwithgrace.online (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB6CAwNAUX9/?igshid=1hxdxha6jyqit

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Grit and Grace and A Life Style of Fitness: Change is a precursor to growth. We fear the unknown. Whether we know it at the time, life presents us with opportitines to offer a path to change and a new perspective. . One thing that I did learn in this quarantine is that growth is uncomfortable. When I am offered a challenge I can embrace it or let it defeat me. . . This is where I spent most of my workouts during this quarantine. In my garage. It was uncomfortable at first because I had no idea “how” to work out with bands and inconventual weights such as gallon water jugs. When I first found out about the quarantine and the gyms closing, I began researching and talking to my coach @fitfabash . I watched her instagram videos and began to adapt. I gathered what I had in my house and went to work. I kept the same work out routine and did my work outs around the same time as I would if I were working out in the gym. I was able to adapt to this challenge and continue to make progress with a mindset and a perspective that this will be a life changing, positive experience. I did learn that it is possible and I know I came out of this stronger. I developed a greater appreciation for the gym and my life. . . Now, being back in the gym, I feel like I haven’t missed a day. I feel stronger than ever (of course with the exception of leg day and wearing a mask). Looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way! Find your inner Grit and Grace. . . “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.” - Gail Sheehy . . 📸 @auroraphoto . #sarahschillingfitness #grit #grace #gritandgrace #lifestyle #fitness #relentless #gym #fitspo #graceful #gracefultransformations #transform #weightloss #transformationjourney #grow #growthmindset #bicepworkout #biceps #bodybuilding #npccompetitor #npc (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB5077IgB2u/?igshid=1wk36ffhq20eq

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𝔾𝕣𝕚𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕖: 𝔽𝕚𝕥𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖. Through my fitness journey, I have learned the importance of measuring my food. It is an adjustment at first and time consuming. However, it is a necessity to follow a diet and making fitness apart of everyday life. I’ve had this food scale from when I first started to loose weight at the beginning of 2017. When I was loosing weight I mostly counted my calories and measured my food with a food scale. A key to weight loss or a diet to meet a specific goal is to measure each amount of protein, carbohydrate and fat. I specifically learned about the food scale when I started Bodybuilding and the importance of measuring food rather than counting calories. If I don’t weigh my food and just “guess”, my portions arent accurate which will throw off my macros for the day. As a society, people normally eat servings that are much larger than recommended amounts. A food scale has taught me portion control when I am doing a refeed meal as well. It keeps me from eating more than I planned. Measuring my food is now a part of my fitness lifestyle. The only way to make progress in Bodybuilding or progress towards any goal is to be consistent and relentless. Consistency adds up like collecting money in the bank. I break my days into meals and weeks into perfect days. Thank you @fitfabash for teaching that. I collect my perfect days and add them to my bank to make progress towards my goal each day sculpt the physique that I want on stage. . 📸 @auroraphoto . . #sarahschillingfitness #grit #grace #gritandgrace #gracefultransformations #fitness #fitnessjourney #lifestyle #fitnesslifestyle #bodybuilding #weightloss #nutrition #nutritioncoach #personaltrainer #relentless (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBlPFSiAZy9/?igshid=wuh0rat35jcm

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Find your inner GRIT and GRACE. Gracefully Transform! Always Stepping Forward With Grit And Grace. Facing Obstacles With Power, Inner Strength, and Poise. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness and Graceful Transformations is about to transform! . #sarahschillingfitness #gritandgrace #inspire #fitness #motivation #strength #gym #inspiration #bodybuilding #gracefultransformations #relentless. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness Graceful Transformations www.gritwithgrace.online (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBjzUuBgDxw/?igshid=1r597wn0bz039

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Grit and Grace: Lifestyle of Fitness. I have learned the importance of making fitness a lifestyle. After I won The Edge Challenge with @generatinggreatness , I knew that I didn’t want to become unhealthy and overweight again. If I went back to my old eating habits I would have totally erased all of my weight loss that I worked so hard for. So, I continued on my journey. I ate for my goals. . . There is so much work that goes on behind the scenes of fitness which is required to be successful. @fitfabash has taught me so much about how to make fitness a lifestyle and the importance of following my diet when I am not in a contest prep. Growth happens so much in an improvement season with the ultimate goal of being HEALTHY! . . Two times a week I food prep my food to make sure all of the food that I need throughout the day is ready. I have found that food prepping two times a week keeps my food fresh. As a result I enjoy my food much more. I always have my diet that @fitfabash writes for me in front of me so that I can measure the amount of food that I need to eat. . . When I fist started Bodybuilding, I would take about 6 hours to food prep all of my diets. It would prepare all of my food on Sundays, measure it out and prepare 70 containers of food. I didn’t enjoy it! I have learned that simple is better. I microwave frozen vegetables and potatoes, cook my protein with salt and pepper and I prepare my rice in a rice cooker. In order to follow through with a diet, it is so important to keep everything simple and prepared. When my food is prepared, I know I will succeed! . All aspects of fitness will always be apart of who I am. It is my LIFESTYLE. . 📸 @auroraphoto . #sarahschillingfitness #fitness #lifestyle #fitnessjourney #foodprep #contestprep #improvement #diet #healthiswealth #healthifestyle #bodybulding #macros #gritandgrace #grit #workforit (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBcaioAgang/?igshid=19tj1i5hyon4d

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Find your inner GRIT and GRACE. Gracefully Transform! Always Stepping Forward With Grit And Grace. Facing Obstacles With Power, Inner Strength, and Poise. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness and Graceful Transformations is about to transform! More information coming soon! . . #sarahschillingfitness #gritandgrace #inspire #fitness #motivation #strength #gym #inspiration #bodybuilding #gracefultransformations #relentless. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness Graceful Transformations www.gritwithgrace.online (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBcXkHqAhzE/?igshid=z2j98n9ox9gq

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𝔾𝕣𝕚𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕖: 𝔽𝕚𝕥𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖:Every week for the past 3 and a half years I’ve done my weekly check ins in this chair with my grandmothers blanket. I have done about done about 200 check ins and progress pictures whether I am in a contest prep or an improvement season. I take my progress pictures and answer questions for my Bodybuilding coach @fitfabash. I look at my check ins as mental and physical growth. Each time I check in, I reflect on the week, what I need to do to be better and if there is anything that I need to change mentally. I compare my picture to the week before and take a look at what I need to improve physically. It is so much fun to look at what I have improved on and I celebrate it all. Sometimes I don’t see any progress and sometimes there is monumental progress. I have learned to accept that this is a process. I wait to get my feedback from Ashley and the changes we need to make. I rely on Ashley to provide me with my programming and then it is my job to work my plan. Last week when I checked in, my week was not perfect. I explained to Ashley that I went off my diet by not eating the exact portions of foods and I didn’t eat all of my meals. What I learned is the importance of accepting my actions and not following my plan. I very reluctantly did my check in and my progress pictures. What I did learn is to accept my eating and to move on from my mistake. There can be the perfect plan, however, if I don’t follow it, it will not help me grow. I certainly wasn’t proud of myself, however, what I did learn is that setback, pushed me harder this week to be better. Ashley provided me with some awesome advice. Make each meal and each day perfect and collect those perfect days. So I did just that. I printed out my diets, checked off each meal as I ate it and collected 7 perfect days!!! Tomorrow I will do my check in and I know it will be awesome! As a result of disappointing myself last week, I dropped 7 lbs this week! This goes to show that we are limitless and ANYTHING can be done! . 📸 @auroraphoto . . #gritandgrace #fitness #lifestyle #fitnesslifestyle #contestprep #bodybuilding #relentless (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBcA14jg8K9/?igshid=8z920wc4bc05

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My Grit and Grace Necessities: Sparkle, Posing Heels, Weights, Barbell and Lifting Belt. . . Through this quarantine, I kept my heels with me when I worked out to always remind me of what I am working for. Grace: The Sparkle. Grit: The Work. . Working out, the weights are the same. They never change. The only person that can lift these weights is me. I do the work. I write the story, I choose how the story continues, and how the day will be at the gym. I choose how the weights will challenge me that day and what I will learn from them. I am constantly learning lessons from weights such as failure, strength, and determination. I harness those lessons and apply them to life. Through lifting weights, I’ve had so many personal victories, personal bests and celebrations. Even though it is just iron I always feel victorious and empowered when I finish a work out. The journey continues, it never ends and it is pretty incredible. . . 📸 @auroraphoto. . #gritandgrace #fitness #fit #gracefultransformations #grit #grace #athomeworkouts #weights #weighttraining #inspire #bodybuilding #strength #sparkle #focus #strengthtrainingforwomen #relentless #firewithin #posing #posingheels. (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBUgRR6ASwo/?igshid=1711rgfntbj8g

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Find your inner GRIT and GRACE. Gracefully Transform! Always Stepping Forward With Grit And Grace. Facing Obstacles With Power, Inner Strength, and Poise. . . #sarahschillingfitness #gritandgrace #inspire #fitness #motivation #strength #gym #inspiration #bodybuilding #gracefultransformations #relentless. . . Sarah Schilling Fitness Graceful Transformations www.gritwithgrace.online (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBUJhjRAqg7/?igshid=18prlwbg9x5za

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𝔾𝕣𝕚𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕖: 𝕄𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 These are few of my favorite books that I often read when I need to find myself again. I have them stacked on my bay window by where I sit in my living room. Each of these books are very special to me for different reasons and have gotten me through some tough times in life. All of these books are examples of incredible athletes, Navy Seals, Marines, Coaches and Motivational Speakers. Even though motivation and discipline comes from within myself, words have a way of healing, inspiring, changing my perspective and sometimes helping me to find my inner strength again. . One of my favorite books that I’ve read over and over again is the book “Relentless” by Tim Grover @timgrover . It was the first book that I read when I started Bodybuilding in 2017. Breena Martinez @breenamartinez was the first Bikini Pro that I ever started to follow on Instagram. I remember watching her story and explaining that “Relentless” was a game changer and a must read. I think at the time she was having her whole Bikini Team read this book. I usually read “Relentless” from cover to cover four times a year, especially, before I begin a contest prep. I’ve read this book so much that the cover is worn, the pages are earmarked with my go to pages when I feeling lost in the days and I need to get my mind back together. I even listen to the audio version when I am doing long periods of cardio. It always reminds of me of who I want to be as an athlete and will always give me a kick in the butt to get my mind back together. . My favorite quote from “Relentless” book “I don't care how good you think you are, or how great others think you are—you can improve, and you will. Being relentless means demanding more of yourself than anyone else could ever demand of you, knowing that every time you stop, you can still do more. You must do more”. -Tim Grover . This amazing photo is by @auroraphoto. Truly the best! . #gritandgrace #sarahschillingfitness #gracefultransformations #grit #motivation #inspiration #athletes #transformation #journey #fitness #mindset #growth #bodybuilding #relentless #timgrover. (at Danbury, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBTXT8JAOqA/?igshid=ve0yyoier71o