Take 5 with Michelle Adams

HH had the opportunity to Take 5 with Michelle Adams recently. Michelle, from Orlando, Florida is a certified Strength and Conditioning specialist; certified Sports Nutritionist; Metabolic Precision Science Editor and Level 4 Trainer and a USA certified weight lifting coach (just a few of her many credentials!). Michelle is also an athlete, having competed as a professional figure athlete and is now an ultra marathon runner!

What is you favourite exercise?

I honestly don’t have one…depends what I’m training.  I may have a favourite of the day- squats or deadlifts or rows or…but no overall favourite. I’m just that way – I don’t have a favourite colour either.

What has been your biggest health/fitness challenge?

Getting past not liking myself, or my physique…then getting “stuck” in the contest prep mentality that you had to starve yourself and overtrain and could only look good for about an hour… so realizing that that was not sustainable, nor healthy.

What motivates you?

It feels good to feel good. I like to train heavy (and run) and I like to eat to fuel myself. My passion is bringing the truth about all of this to people. I was lost for so long and I know what it feels like to feel like you aren’t finding the answers you want to get you the results you are desperate to find. So my passion is bringing the truth to people- so they will know how to achieve their every dream…empower them not enslave them.

What’s your best health/fitness tip?

Love yourself and KNOW that you are worth it. Yeah, may not sound like a health or fitness tip, but if you don’t KNOW that you are truly worth it, you won’t do what you need to do to achieve your goals…simply because you don’t believe you can. Believing you can and knowing you are worth it is the BIGGEST piece to this.

What has been your biggest achievement in health and fitness?

… um, I guess many would expect me to say winning an IFBB Pro Figure show, or competing at the Olympia, or qualifying for the Boston Marathon.  While I am not discounting the prestige in any of those events I think it pales in comparison to achieving freedom from food and exercise. Learning that they do not have power over me, that I actually am the one who can use food and exercise as tools to help me achieve whatever I desire. THAT is my biggest accomplishment!