Keeping it real

   I became a new mom 1 week ago! I decided to Blog about my experience because my heart is filled with so many emotions right now that i feel the need to share them. Also, during my pregnancy i constantly looked for inspiration  through other mom to be fitness freak like me. I was searching for the mom that is involved in fitness just like i am, is she going through the same things i am? Knowing that i was not alone made me go through my pregnancy with confidence. Hopefully, i can also inspire others by sharing my experience, my struggles, my happy days and my sad days, and my journey to getting back in shape !

   Having a baby.... just the thought of it made me run away. I had a very bad experience being around a child for many years that wasn't mine. It made me dislike everything about being a mom one day and raising a child. I know it sounds harsh ,but a bad relationship will scar you for life. I wasn't involved in fitness yet, but when i started competing and my fitness career took off, i literally could see myself doing this for a very very long time. There was no way i could sabotage and "ruin" my body by having a baby, let along not find time to go in the gym 2 times a day, loosing my freedom,etc.....

    But then i met Anthony, my husband. He was all about getting married and start a family. I wished the "wanting kids" would eventually knock on my door, because i loved him deeply. But i kept delaying the process of having a baby, for the same reasons, it was never the right time until i just had to dive into the idea of it and let it happen. 
We became pregnant in January 2014. I was happy, but also FREAKED out. Telling myself my life is forever change, i won't be attractive for my husband anymore, how about date night?! what's gonna happen with our intimacy ? My body is forever ruined ! I actually increased the intensity of my workouts when i became pregnant, by fear of gaining weight, i kept dieting hard and all i worried about was weight gain . Well, 8 weeks later, i had a miscarriage. The doctor said it was the chromosomes that didn't "mesh" together properly. I felt i was also mentally and emotionally not prepared enough to accept a growing life inside me, i "rejected" the idea of it.... And i believe everything happened for a reason. 

     A few weeks after our loss, the opposite happened. There was the knock on the door i was waiting for. I wanted to be a mom so bad. I wanted to have a family with my husband. So i started to pray and ask for a miracle. I was so worried it would never happen again. Were we compatible? How many miscarriage could i go through? Can i even carry a baby ?! But they say stress can make the situation worst. So i kept praying and believing it would eventually happen....

And it did ! In October 2014! Pregnant again :) But wait..... lets not get too excited... i already went though a miscarriage, i can go through another. And the fear of loss started. At 12 weeks, that's when your pretty much out of the woods right ? That's when we announced we were expecting a baby girl :)

And let the fun of the pregnancy begin.......

destiny

hola!!

Hope ya'll doing good!

Just came back from an Amazing run with my best friend: OxyElite lol. This thing will get you going forever! I feel like forest gump lol i don't even want to stop at the light, i just wanna keep going and going.
I think i'm 6 weeks out for my show. NPC bikini Pittsburgh. I got my suit in the mail last week...oh man, i did a good choice! I'm usually use to Figure suits... First time i have a "bikini" suit done :) I love it !
You guys might think with everything happening in my life this past year that i've accomplished everything or almost ;) but i still have hopes and dreams and i'm sticking to it!
One is to be an IFBB pro. yea i know it's hard to get to that level, but many girls did it, why couldn't i? So this year i'm going for it! Wish me luck people, we'll see if i please the judges again...:)

On another note, big things have been happening this past month. For 3 weeks i've worked on a reality show/pilot : the making of a swimsuit calendar. Kind of a "spoof "/funny reality show of 6 episodes that gonna air on fashion TV and fashion ONE. Even if we call it a reality show it was acting the hole time. So if you see it, keep that in mind !!! LOL you might have a few surprises ! This was such an adventure for me , having a camera on you every hours of the day is something else...let me tell you that....You will see ALOT of emotions...fun, sadness, frustration, fights...
I have work with an amazing crew for 3 weeks, amazing models and actors. It was a hole new world for me and i enjoyed every part of it. And i'll have pictures of it soon !


I also got cast for the Biggest Loser's next lead trainer. They are replacing Jilian Micheals. I skipped the casting, they emailed me direct to meet with them in person:) OMG i was so excited. And right on the spot they decided to film me training somebody the very next day so they can present the "demo real" to the producers. So that was quite an experience to have the Biggest Looser's casting team come at your gym and film you ! It normally takes weeks to hear from them. So right now i can only cross my fingers and pray to God that this is my destiny :)

SO right now i am enjoying more TV filming then doing photoshoot lol
I havent shot for a while. I kinda miss it though... I stopped shooting here and there... Even though there's some amazing photographers that reached out to me, my heart wasn't there.

The MAMA DEE'S cookies are doing AMAZING ! we are now in Florida, California, Dallas, Connecticut and soon Mississipi. check out the website again at : www.mamadeesprotein.com

well, that's it for now... going to cook food and watch American Idol with my husband and doggies!

michele xox

back on stage......................

back on stage

has you may know... or not know LOL i am going back on stage in May 2011. And i hope i found my "home" in The new NPC bikini division...
See, i was planning on making a come back last year . I competed in Figure to realize it's not my place anymore.
I originally competed has a figure athlete. With the title of Miss figure Universe, miss figure America and so on, i though it would be easy for me to come back strong. I placed second , but it's still not good enough for someone who dreams of having her Pro cards.

so, after reading on SIOUX.COM this:

http://www.siouxcountry.com/showthread.php?t=8629

i thought last year of giving it a shot.

My training has been very different lately and for ONCE, yes for once i fit in normal clothing. My "quads" finally fit in a normal pair of jeans, my shoulders and back, in a cute little t-shirt:) and i am loving it ! see, this is the reason WHY i want to compete in bikini :)
I was told i was too lazy, that i didn't wanted to do the training and diet that comes with being a figure athlete. I am working just has hard, i am 12 weeks out dieting and eating very clean, working out 2 times a day. I am far from being lazy ! i just have a different physique now, don't carry has much muscles and i am more comfortable in my body, competing or not competing. It's a personal choice that shouldn't be judge this way... right ?!

Bikini is all about Charisma and personality on stage. This is what i was renown for when i was competing. Great stage presence and alot of confidence!
I'm ready to bring this energy back on stage and show em' what's up !!!
so has we go, i will try and keep you updated with my contest prep :)

The Arnold Classic is coming fast and i am sadly announcing that i will not be attending the Arnold this year. It was a privilege to work for Robert kennedy/Musclemag/Oxygen the past few years. It always a pleasure to see your "true"fans , taking pictures, signing autographs, ect....
yes, i will miss you guys this year :)
I just feel i need to take a break from the expos. You gotta understand how it just sucks the energy out of you. I've been going to the Arnold 5 years in a row now? i know i know some athletes have been going there for 8-9 years! how do you do it?!
I have other areas of my life that needs much more attention then the Arnold right now....

i sure will miss you ! xo


BTW, if you are a nutrition store, Distribution center, sales rep, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me for MAMA DEE'S ( www.mamadeesprotein.com) at levmichele@gmail.com

AND

You might wanna check my latest interview:

http://www.theglobaltownhall.com/home

good night xoxo

believe in yourself

hi everyone!!!

hope your doing good! I decided to write a new blog after emailing one of my client i work with ....I just started to train her online and she is truly beautiful and she wants to get her body to another level. So i told her i would definitely help her out.... But, after a few emails here and there, i realize that she is constantly looking at what she don't like on her body instead of what she likes. I keep telling her to Believe in herself and loving herself...and she will get what she wants. But i can truly relate to her and this is why i decided to write that blog. She ask me how i got started in the industry and how i got where i am today... so i figured i would share this with you :)

First of all, i always had a low self esteem about my body. Yes, this is gonna surprise a few of you , but i have nothing to hide and there is alot of woman who are in the same boat i was. For some reason i never liked my body. I was never over weight, in fact i suffered from anorexia at some point in my life. I was a track and field sprinter, a champion. And my coach destroyed me mentally... He kept saying i was too fat, that my legs were to big, that i couldn't lift them, couldn't run fast enough( which is not true...) It hurt me mentally and killed the very little confidence i had in me. That' s when i became anorexic.I was running 4-5 times a day, after every meal,i was eating carrots and would go for a 20 mile run. Until my mom told me i had severe problems and she would take me to see the psychiatrist !!! I was so scared, i went back to eating normal again! But, since that day i always battled with body images issues.

I started to workout at the gym, after 2 knee surgery and was amazed on how a body could change by doing weights. So i did it more and more! That's when i started to get an interest for fitness, figure, nutrition. I was looking at Oxygen magazine, Fitness RX and was DREAMING to get on stage and dreaming on being on the cover....
I always thought i was never good enough for the stage. i was shy, uncomfortable in my own body, i always wanted to be in someone else shoes, except mine.
But i went for it. To take away the fear, do something for myself and it was a new challenge for me.
i won the overall and it all started from there.......
Competing was actually the best thing i have ever done for myself. It gave me confidence, i was alive on stage and i discovered a "new me". I was loving everything about it! i was feeling powerful and people started to email me , i started to build a fan base and they were actually complimenting me on my body .....
This cant' be true... not my body. I was having a hard time to say thank you and just accepting the compliment. It's still something i fight for everyday of my life. Accepting. Accepting that your husband or fans, tells me: your beautiful, i love your body.... i still see the negative sometimes when people compliments me. BUT i have learn ALOT and grown and i am proud to be the woman i am today , that's for sure!!!

The fitness modelling part came after a year of competing.... i did one or 2 shoot here and there and nothing good came out of it. But again, i had that same feeling of being alive in front of the camera. I was confident, i felt sexy and beautiful and i wanted to pursue that feeling! so i kept shooting:)
Robert kennedy actually gave me my first spread in Oxygen with Robert Reiff ( photographer) and i always say to Robert K: thank you. You believed in me and gave me the chance to prove i could do this. And i did it. From there, i started to be more and more comfortable in front of the lens... i realized by myself that... maybe if i try hard enough, i could be good at this and..who knows where it can take me!

I wanted this SO BAD..... i remember walking to work one day and saying to myself: i will be recognize has a top fitness model, i am on every cover , i will do this , i can do this! And i will!
This particular moment( i have goose bumps!!) I meant e-v-e-r-y s-i-n-g-l-e word and i knew in my heart and mind that it was going to happen.
and somehow, it happened. I did it myself, without the help of anybody, i went to chase my dreams and nobody would stop me.

Don't get me wrong, i am a human being just like everybody else. I have days where i would love to be taller, be skinnier, ect... But by loving yourself and believing in yourself, you attract good people around you that are there to help you and love you . I have learn this over the years, and i am still learning to do this.
People think your born a model and you wake up one day and... your one the cover of magazines. That's why i decided to share this with you because i am NOT one of them. I made it happen by believing, working hard at it and yes it was a bumpy road for me to get there. But now, nothing can get in my way. When i want something, i definitely know how to get it!

Whatever your goal or dream is, you will meet people that don't think you can do it. Screw them. don't let anyone stop you from chasing your dreams or wanting something really bad. Do it for yourself. don't do it for anybody else...

I know alot of you takes me has an inspiration.... and i am so happy to be on your " wall of inspiration". Just remember that success dosent happen over night . You have to work at it, jump the hurdles, push people in your way that are stopping you to go further in life. And, if one door opens, 10 might be closed on the other side. LIFE is all about challenges, challenging YOURSELF. It takes faith, determination and dedication. And most important, learn to love yourself. Nothing good is gonna happen if you don't accept who you are has a person.

When you need something to believe in, start with yourself.”

Keep your dreams alive,


michele xox

hi Everyone!!

It's been a while since i posted a blog on my website. I have been super busy !!!

hummm let's see. Well the last time we talked, i was preparing for LA right? well, i did shoot for MAVtv. its a model contest. I recently saw the edit video and they did a great job !! Thanks to RObert Reiff. Can't wait til you guys see this in 2011. I also shot with Anthony Presciano, my fiance, for Muscle and performance cover. It's gonna be out in December...can't wait !!!

I just came back from Las Vegas, it was the Olympia weekend and i was working at the BodyBuilding.com booth. I made new friends, met fans, took pictures , and had a blast !

Lets not talk about saturday night at XS ok ?! omg my feet were so swollen, from walking and dancing , and i was dehydrated. So i took off my shoes and my foot was twice the size! I had to walk barefoot, in the club, in the casino, outside waiting for a cab, and in my hotel room.... NOT FUN ! I am mentioning this becaus, 2 random guys wrote me on facebook asking me if i was the girl limping barefoot in the Casino hahah

I was looking forward to the Olympia, i wanted to take a break after for a couple of months.

I have been very active for the past year in the fitness industry, i have done many covers , i have pushed hard to promote myself, compete, started my own buisness( wwwmamadeesprotein.com) i moved in FLorida with Anthony... alot happened in the past year. I was so looking forward to take a break! But apparently , i wont !

I've been talking with a producer the last few months , about having a fitness show ... Well, he actually came up with the idea and got in touch with me... So , he's been working on this for months ! In the mean time , i hired an agent to take care of my career and apparently both of them are planning my futur now LOL... no break for Michele. If this goes like they plan it , it's gonna be a huge success! Has much has i want to relax and enjoy life a little, well, i just gotta take advantage of whats happenning right now.

I am also meeting with WWE casting crew tomorrow , MAYBE i'll be one of there diva's. I will keep you posted on that has well.

Has for competing... well everytime i am surrounded by great athletes ( the Olympia) i wanna go back on stage and get my pro cards. Latelly i had too many things happening to even focus on a show. And the fact that i was still wondering if i should do bikini or figure..... I just take it month by month for now has far has competing goes. The season is over anyways, so i'll have to think about it next year and see where i am at.

MAMA DEE'S protein cookies are doing really good!!! We just got picked up by 2 distributors, a huge thing for us, since we are not even 2 months old. So be prepared to see MAMA DEE'S protein cookies in a store near you ! In the mean time, i am doing alot of promotion here in South Florida to help spread the MAMA DEE'S word. The kids love it, the mom is absolutally crazy about the flavors and dad ..... 2 cookies is just not enough for him, everybody wants more ! ! LOL SO far, we get great feed-back and if you wanna help MAMA DEE'S protein cookies buisness grow, if you have a supplement store or anywhere you think you can help us sell the cookies, send me an email : levmichele@gmail.com. i'll send you free samples.

You can also order your TRIAL KIT : http://www.mamadeesprotein.com/

Well, that's it for me ! i will make sure i keep you posted with everything. Make sure you join my Facebook Fan page for regular and faster updates!!!

michele xoxoxo

hi there!

Not the best weather here in south Florida... its officially Hurricane season. I'm excited! believe it or not LOL i've never experienced a hurricane in my life , and i'm all excited when i hear on the news Earl is coming. trust me, i don't wish a hurricane hits south Florida , i heard its not fun. But its like being in your first snow storm in Canada i guess ...no?! lol

It's been a while since i logged in and wrote a blog. I have been super busy traveling and preparing for shoots in Los Angeles.

I was happy to go back in front of the lens with Robert Reiff. He actually got my first spread in Oxygen a few years ago ! We shot for MAVTV thats gonna be air in janurary. And i shot with my sexy fiance, Anthony Presciano for the cover of muscle and performance( vitamin shop) thats gonna come out in december!

Other then that, i've been dying to compete! Every time i see contest pics uploaded on facebook, it makes me go nuts! But , because of my injury a few weeks ago, i was forced to slow down. I am ok now, just gotta be very careful. So i'm pretty much doign alot of cardio for now. Since i wanna come back onstage has a bikini girl, it only makes sens that i slow down a little and keep a smaller and softer frame.

OH!! i just got 2 covers that came out: Max sports and fitneess that you can get in all the max muscle stores and Fitness magazine. Its like an Oxygen version, but in South Africa! yes, i'm all over the place ! LOLL and if your ready for action, make sure you grab the latest Fitness RX and check out my super circuit TRX training !

I recently signed with a manager that i gonna take my career to the next level. On that note, i talked with the guys at WWE to be one of their Divas. They seemed very excited and wanted to bring me in their training facility in Tampa. So we'll see how it goes. Everything takes alot of time and patience. Wich i dont have. I want everything all at once and i cannot wait. One week for me is an eternity! I'm bugging the hell out of my manager lol "But he said to me everytime and super calm. Michele, everything is a process and takes time"... so i guess i gotta deal with that LOL

The Olympia is coming and i'll be working with.... trrrrrrr, drum roll ,trrrrrr.... Bodybuilding.com!

I wanted to do stuff with them for a few years and i finally! I'm very blessed cauz its a super busy booth and i'll have the chance to see alot of fans and take pictures. SO, make sure you stop by and say Hello !!!

AFter the Olympia. Break time. I need to back off a little bit. I need to focus on MAMA DEE'S PROTEIN COOKIES . ( http://www.mamadeesprotein.com/) For thoses of you who ask where MAMA DEE'S comes from, well its my mother in law's name :Debbie . Its a classic cookie recipe with a twist: whey portein isolate, flax seed oil, no fake sugars. Its healthy, its chewy, its wholesome, its the best snack you can have! You can order the trial kit on line if you still don't have it in your favorite store. And if you think of a store close to you that would be ready to sell them, shoot me an email! we'll take care of it and send you free cookies. How cool is that ?!

ok, time for a second cardio sesh !!

http://mamadeesprotein.com

talk soon :)

NO PAIN NO GAIN !!

hi fitness lovers !

hope you are all having a great week ! BTW the fitness cover is apparently one of their best selling covers so far !!! So make sure you grab it before its too late !!!

I have good news and bad news for you guys....

First off, well, i have been doing alot of thinking lately. Mostly about competing. For thoses of you who has been following me since the begining, you all know that i started my fitness career has a figure competitor in 2005. 5 years already ! WOW !!! I have won several shows such has Fame WNSO, WBFF, musclemania figure America, Figure Universe and i got invited to compete at the Arnold Classic in 2008. And then i stopped competing for 2 years. I wanted to focus on my modeling career instead of going on stage... and i made the right decision !

I landed some pretty big covers the past year and a half. My "new" fans knows me more has the sexy fitness model, but i got news for you guys, Michele is a pretty bad ass athlete. Who use to run sprints like a champ , in fact, i almost went to the Olympics. So i am not afraid to push hard at the gym. BTW, if you see me in the gym, i'm in a zone, i have my ipod one, my versagrips and i sweat like a B.... !

I decided to make a come back this year has a NPC figure competitor. One of my biggest dream, always been and still is, to be an IFBB figure professional. I was told many times i had the genetics and the talent for it. But lately, i have been faced with decisions to take regarding my competing career. The way i see the sport of figure is going, i am not sure i wanna put my body into such hard core dieting and training. I would rather keep a healthy physique all year long, be able to shoot within 2 weeks noticed, rather then depleting myself, go into starvation and dealing with the rebound of such a low calorie diet that occurs after a contest.

So with the new NPC bikini division , is was thinking of "crossing"over. I always liked to show off my sexy and bubbly personality on stage anyways rather then pose and stare at the judges.

I meditated for a while on this and i decided to enter my first NPC bikini contest end of august !!

BUT.. (and this is the bad news...) this morning, ( has in thuesday july 19th) , i woke up with my fiance( www.anthonypresciano.com) with the intention of starting a new "sprinting" workout on the rack. We have a track close to our house, its sooo convenient and i was so excited!!

After 30 minutes of full and intense running and sprinting...it hapened....boom!

i felt the most unconfortable pain ever, feeling the gastrocnemius pulling and tearing, has i was approching 100 meters.

thank god Anthony was there, he carried me all the way to the car...poor guy !!! LOLLL

So i'm sitting here, with ice on my calfs, can't walk, and i'm wondering ...

"Why and how the hell did that happened??!"

now i believe there is NO PAIN NO GAIN !!!!

to be continued.......