Olympic Medalist Exclusive Tips

Tips To Achieve Your Goals!

By Glenn Mueller
eDiets Senior Writer

EDITOR'S NOTE: eDiets and Atkins have teamed up to create personalized low-carb plans for you! This dynamic duo can get you started on the road to weight loss today! To get started on shedding those extra pounds, click here to complete a free profile. Read on for further inspiration...

Each time the door seemed to slam shut on her lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics, Mohini Bhardwaj found a way to kick it back open again. The talented gymnast encountered just about every type of obstacle imaginable, including bitter disappointments, burnout, severe financial struggles and devastating injuries. But she never lost sight of her ultimate objective.

Finally, at the ripe old age of 25, Mohini served as Captain of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Her team silver medal was the icing on the comeback cake.

"When you set a goal and become determined to accomplish it, you can't let obstacles get in your way," Mohini tells eDiets for this eCover exclusive. "It wouldn't be a worthwhile goal if it were easy to obtain."

Mohini's journey to Olympic success in Athens was a long and hard-fought battle... one filled with more drama and twists than even the ancient Greek writer Homer could have conjured up.

Like so many great athletes, Mohini was a child prodigy. She began her gymnastics training at the tender age of 4. By the time she was 13, Mohini had already outgrown the resources available in her home town of Cincinnati. To pursue her dream of competing in the Olympics, Mohini moved to Orlando with her mother. Four years later, Mohini followed a prominent coach to Houston, this time without her mother.

The freedom and pressure of living alone at 17 took their toll on Mohini's training. Ultimately, she still only missed qualifying for the 1996 Olympic team by a mere fraction of a point. While she was happy for the success of her colleagues, Mohini was too devastated to even watch the "Magnificent Seven" compete eight years ago in Atlanta.

"I was determined to stay active in the sport," Mohini says. "The next year I represented the United States at the World Championships in Switzerland."

As one of the top prospects in the country for college gymnastics, Mohini accepted a full scholarship to UCLA. College proved another difficult adjustment. Mohini struggled to balance her social and academic life with the rigorous gymnastics training. She was also forced to battle her way back from several injuries.

Ultimately, it was the interaction with her teammates that rekindled Mohini's love for the sport.

"Training for the Olympics is more of a personal thing," she notes. "Suddenly, I was put together with a team of girls. I realized that doing the sport in college was not just about me. It was about other people. I was contributing to a team."

And, contribute she did. UCLA's investment in Mohini paid off in spades. Ultimately, she became the most highly decorated gymnast in school history and vaulted the Bruins to a pair of national championships.

By scoring degrees in both sociology and history, Mohini had become a winner in the classroom as well. But after graduation, Mohini became aware of a large void in her life and she again set her sights on Olympic glory.

"I just felt like I had some unfinished business," she says. "I hadn't fulfilled my ultimate goal and it was lingering in the back of my mind."

At age 22, Mohini returned to her Olympic training with a vengeance. Not only did she qualify for the 2001 U.S. World Championship team, but she also helped lead that squad to a third-place bronze medal. Yet, just when her goal seemed again within reach, Mohini endured the most severe setback of all.

Two years ago -- with her Olympic dream thisclose to becoming a reality -- Mohini dislocated her elbow. This injury forced her out of competition for the rest of the year and proved severe enough to land her in temporary retirement.

"I completely retired after that injury," Mohini says. "But, I still felt like something was missing from my life. I don't like to leave things unfinished. I wanted to go to the Olympics and I still knew I could do it."

By the time she was healthy enough to begin training again, Mohini was having serious financial issues. She was attempting to support herself and doubted she would be able to raise enough money to pay for her gymnastics training. At one point, she was working as a cocktail waitress and coaching full-time while trying to squeeze in her daily training sessions.

Mohini's journey to the Olympics reads like a Hollywood script, so it seems only appropriate that she received financial backing from one of Tinseltown's flashiest stars. Pamela Anderson, herself a former gymnast, heard about Mohini's plight and came to the rescue with much-needed financial help. Mohini's VIP has contributed more than $20,000 to an Olympic fund established in Mohini's name.

"Without her help, I honestly don't know if I would have made it," says the appreciative athlete.

With the financial backing in place, Mohini was able to concentrate completely on her goal and earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team. She was unanimously selected by her teammates to serve as captain.

"I was honored that my teammates believed I was experienced and qualified enough to serve as team captain," Mohini says.

Mohini was the second-oldest member of the second-place U.S. squad. Teammate Annia Hatch, 26, earned elder statesman honors.

"There were actually quite a few women our age competing," Mohini says. "But, we may have paved the way for more veteran American gymnasts. Hopefully, we also helped teach college athletes that if they don't achieve their goals before college they can still do it after college."

In order to inspire other veteran gymnasts to take up the challenge, the Mohini Bhardwaj Olympic Fund has become an ongoing project. When Mohini is finished training, she will designate the next athletes deserving of financial support from the fund.

Now, in this eDiets exclusive, Mohini shares her top 3 tips for staying motivated... no matter what.

• Stay Focused! "When you set a goal for yourself, don't ever lose sight of the goal," she urges. "Think about it in the morning when you first wake up.

• Don't let little things get in the way or distract you from your goal."

• Develop A Game Plan! "Break down your goal into smaller steps," Mohini says. "Every small thing you accomplish gets you closer to your goal."

• Give Yourself Time Off! "Take at least one day off every week," she advises. "You need to take at least one day a week off when you are training for the Olympics to let your body heal.

Are you ready to make your diet and fitness dreams come true? eDiets can help you win your own gold medal of good health with one of our 20 fantastic programs, each customizable to YOUR preferences. Visit eDiets to get started