Interview by Monica Cotturone

Hi Michelle!

…here are few questions for you:

1-            Tell me a little bit about yourself before HT and BuffMother.com

Well, I could really get LONG here…but I know you’ve read my story on my website and in my book.  The main message that I want to get across is that I was just an average girl/woman who needed some encouragement and a mission for my life.  I married young to a wonderful man who believed in my potential way more than I did myself.  He pushed me to strive for more in life and to go after my dreams.  It took time…but 10 years into our marriage after having 4 kids in 4 years (including twins) all the encouragement that he instilled in me combined with GOD revealing my true mission lit a fire in me that has pushed me to strive for and attain dreams I once thought impossible.  Before HT and BuffMother! I was a different person…I was weak (mentally and physically), scared, un-motivated, fickle, moody, unhappy and physically a mess.  I was like a puzzle that hadn’t been even taken out of the box yet.  And NOW I feel like I have just a handful of pieces left to put into place until my full beauty is revealed!

2-            What are your fitness and nutritional credentials?

I have always had an interest in fitness.  As a youth I was very active and enjoyed playing most anything.  I first struggled with my weight as a teenager which prompted my interest to learn about nutrition, strength training and all other aspects of fitness.  I went on to study exercise science, nutrition and coaching for 4 years in College. I am a certified personal trainer and member of the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine).

3-            How did having four children in such a short time period effect you physically, mentally and emotionally?

It basically devastated me.  My body was in a very weak and depleted state, and so was my mind.  I had NO TIME for myself.  I didn’t even know who I was anymore.  I always joke that I think I blacked out for a couple years in there~ I was SO broken down and VERY unhappy.

4-            What was the turning point in your life that made you want to start creating Hormonal Timing and the Rally Room

The turning point for me was the day I looked in the mirror when my twins were 4 months old and I looked like I had just given birth.  I was so SAD!  What others had told me about my body being lost forever looked like a reality.  I remember that making me so mad! And asking myself “WHY couldn’t I look good again?”;  “Is it a proven scientific fact that after pregnancy our body looses it’s potential to be beautiful again?”  ….After all it’s simply MUSCLE  and bone structure that gives shape to our bodies? That’s when I got very determined to SHOW the women of the world that with discipline and the right fitness program having kids doesn’t mean you have to look like “Old Mother Hubbard”!  So that’s when I started to regain my hope, I started to BELIEVE that I could attain my best body ever~ even after 4 kids in 4 short years including twins via c-section.  I set out to be the living proof that you can be BUFF and BEAUTIFUL after Babies.  That’s the moment I dove into researching training methods and diets.  I dove into the science behind how hormones affect a woman before, during and after pregnancy.  I went on to transform my body in the next 9 months into a NATIONAL level figure competitor!  AND I was on fire to share the information I found with every woman in the world!!!  During that time I started by training clients in the gym, then in Jan of 2005 I made my website www.buffmother.com so that I could reach women all over the world with my rally cry “You can be Buff and beautiful after having children, I am living Proof!!”  A few months later, started a yahoo group that quickly grew to 2000 members.   From there I became a highly successful online personal trainer and then in March of 2006 we opened the Rally Room.  The mission of the Rally Room is simply to provide the most positive atmosphere in an online support team, where every member’s goal is simply to encourage, help and love other women who want to be their best.

5-            What do you say to mom’s who think they “just don’t have the time” or they’ll never be able to reach their goals?

NO one has the time…you have to make the time.  And Excuses are abundant for everyone…YOU need to decide to stop using them!  NO EXCUSES!!

6-            What’s a typical day like for you?

This question makes me laugh for a couple of reasons:

#1- my life now is a DREAM compared to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 years ago!  #2- there is no typical day in my life…every day seems to be different.  I get in certain “patterns” for a month or 2 sometimes, but there is never a true ROUTINE in my life.  I am not a creature of habit, routine or addiction…I am a free spirit who is very hard to predict or control, lol!  A typical day in my life is very average,

I work for several hours daily doing things like: operational business duties, writing e-mails, organizing, writing blogs/articles, website maintenance, conference calls, business meetings, etc…,

I workout for about an hour 5-6 days a week..I feel at this point it is part of my JOB and it is VERY important to me to lead by example in my fitness life

I do “housewife duties”: cook, clean, laundry

I run errands, bring my kids places, go shopping, etc

I am a wife to my husband and a mother to my children

I also spend time daily in spiritual time, my relationship with Jesus Christ is very important to keeping me centered and focused on my true mission: to HELP women and to be a LIGHT in the darkness.

I enjoy down time also: lately I’ve spent that time watching movies, tv or MMA fighting

7-            What do you hope to accomplish through Buffmother.com?

It is my goal to revolutionize the women’s fitness industry.  I want women to know that they are special and need to consider their uniqueness of having a Hormonal cycle when trying to attain great health and fitness.  I know it is my God ordained mission to HELP women attain their best bodies, lives and legacies.  The women of the world need to have HOPE that they CAN be successful and Believe that their actions are important not only now but forever!  I feel that what I’ve taught my clients through my books and rally room is that WE hold the key to REVOLUTINIZING the world and I want to encourage women to USE that key to unlock their potential and the potential of those around them!!

8-         If you could tell women only one thing to help them reach their goals what would it be?

It would be to BELIEVE that you are capable of attaining your dreams.  Believe that God made you for a purpose and has given you passion to accomplish that purpose.  So go for it and NEVER give UP!! Just BELIEVE!!!!

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions for me Michelle! You are such a blessing! – Monica

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