The Wellness Files: Michelle Cady ● How instagram inspired her mega career change

The Wellness Files, a wellness-focused interview series featuring the badass ladies that inspire me.

Today I’m excited to feature Michelle Cady, health coach, personal trainer and a serious wealth of knowledge about all things wellness. I had the joy of teaming up with her earlier in the month for a Holistic Happening event and was legit blown away by her passion.

Read on to learn about how instagram inspired her mega career change and her insanely easy, go-to dinner.

I’m a nutrition health coach, personal trainer, running coach and wellness blogger, who works privately with high-achieving individuals who are busy, stressed and want to take their health to the next level.

I’m currently writing a book with the sub-title, “100 Ways to Optimize your Nutrition, Fitness and Wellness while living in an Urban Environment.” I am proud of the company and brand I founded in 2015, FitVista, which serves as a platform for my high-end wellness services. And finally, I love to share and inspire the public to lead happier and healthier lives via writing on my blog and of course, Instagram!

 

▶︎ Tell me more about FitVista and your background as a trainer + health coach.

The name “FitVista” came to be in a moment of sudden inspiration when I was on a business trip to Boston.

At the time, in April 2014, I was finishing up my seventh year working in Finance, in an Investor Relations and Institutional Sales role at a top Asset Management Firm in New York City. After securing several coveted promotions over the years, I had the shocking realization I had *enough* and knew I had to pursue my passion for health and wellness.

I started brainstorming names for a future business on the spot and within moments I thought of FitVista. To me, FitVista means finding “YOUR healthy viewpoint” on life. It’s about aspiring to your healthiest life, enjoying the climb and earning your views. I love that it acts as an umbrella for my business and incorporates everything I’m personally passionate about : nutrition, fitness, wellness, self-care and nature.

Practically speaking, I knew it was time to get formally educated.

I’d been reading and learning everything about food and fitness in my spare time, but I believe in top level education and started to research high level programs to enroll. In June 2014, I made the big leap, left my cubicle in Midtown Manhattan, became a Certified Personal Trainer at Equinox and entered their six month ramping educational program, all the while, enrolling in Nutrition School at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (Check out this YouTube Video on Why I Left Finance to Enroll in IIN). For the next year, my brain was PACKED with knowledge, sometimes it was even hard to think straight!

 

▶︎ What has it been like running your own wellness company?

I love being my own boss. I love being truly authentic in my business.

I’m not trying to appeal to everyone and I’m NOT salesy. I never try to sell a client. The clients that are referred to me or seek me out are always the perfect fit and we’ve seen so much success together. I love what I do and what I’ve created!

 

▶︎ What’s your favorite part about working for yourself?

Spandex, shorts, sneakers and pony-tails. I can definitely rock my health coaching video client calls with a blouse on top and spandex on the bottom!

Seriously though, I’ve always been a high-achiever. I knew FitVista would be a success because I’d make it a success.

That said, I can be pretty hard on myself and push myself to keep working, keep doing and would historically burn-out about every five weeks. Heck, I’m a former long distance cross-country runner at Middlebury College and I used to work at Goldman Sachs …. see a theme here?

I’ve done a ton of research on the science of stress and cortisol issues and behavioral change. Dealing with my own propensity for over-working and “stressing myself out” allows me to relate to my clients, help them learn about their personalities and how that plays into their nutrition and health goals. I also strive to be a role model by taking good care of myself and using my experiences as teaching moments.

 

▶︎ What advice do you have for someone looking to launch their career in health and fitness?

Make a timeline.

Then think about how you can diversify your income sources (i.e. I’m a nutrition health coach, a trainer AND a run coach AND writing a book). I don’t receive a paycheck twice a month anymore, I pay for my own health insurance and I don’t have an automatic 401k contribution. My income comes from multiple revenue streams and can fluctuate throughout the course of the year. January is a great month for new clients! December, not so much.

 

▶︎ Where does your motivation to lead a healthy life come from?

I’ve always loved to be active. Eating well and exercise makes me feel like my best-self — energetic, happy and confident. I love spreading this message, rocking this lifestyle I’ve discovered and letting others in on my secrets!

 

▶︎ How has instagram played a role in your wellness journey?

Goooooood question! Way back in August 2013, I started a secret Instagram account and followed only nutrition and health people. I also started posting my own health adventures as a sort of private journal / diary. Instagram opened my eyes to other walks of life, inspired me and most importantly, showed me that there were real life people out there who were making a living doing what they love. I attribute my secret Instagram account to subconsciously inspiring me to quit Finance.

▶︎ What’s your go-to spot for a healthy meal or snack in NYC?

I’m a big Chop’t Salad girl. Where else can you get a MILLION serving of vegetables? I try to have nine servings of veggies a day (it’s aspirational I know) and one Chop’t Salad covers it. I’m also always on the lookout for Juice Press, Organic Avenue or Digg Inn.

 

▶︎ What’s your proudest fitness moment?

Getting strong and lean. From January 2014 through May 2014 (pre-career change), I hired my own personal trainer for five months and I asked her to teach me all the heavy lifts on the racks like deadlifts, squats and chest-press and work on my pull-ups and push-ups. I can easily do cardio or metabolic conditioning on my own. The results I saw were truly phenomenal. I felt strong and confident and was the leanest I’ve ever been. It inspired me to become a personal trainer and teach other women to lift heavy and not fear the weights. Weights do NOT make you bulky ladies! I was also so hungry all the time, so I ate more and still lost bodyfat and that was FUN.

 

▶︎ What work out, if any, are you currently obsessed with?

I just ran the NYC Marathon on November 6th … so I’ve been running a ton the last few months. I’m so excited to add more variety back in my routine after I spend a week of recovery resting, walking and doing yoga.

I’m excited to get back to fun bootcamp classes and trampolining class in Long Island City and participate in treadmill running classes at Equinox and Barry’s Bootcamp. In December, once my body is healed post marathon, I’m also going to put myself back on a three week intense strength training program.

 

▶︎ When you’re tight on time but want a healthy, homemade dinner, what do you make?

Two eggs fried in ghee with garlic powder and sea salt and a green smoothie (greens, almond milk, bit of chocolate vegan protein powder, half a frozen banana). Easy.

 

▶︎ What’s the last great book you read?

I’m such a book nerd! I recently devoured Carry on Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton, The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter by Meg Jay, A Happier Hour by Rebecca Weller  and The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis. I’m reading a lot more as I gear up to write my own book in 2017.

 

▶︎ What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Know Yourself.

If you understand your strengths, weaknesses, biases, nutritional and emotional needs, personality type and mode of operating in this world, you can design a life you love, deepen your relationships, manifest greatness and most importantly, health and happiness.

 

▶︎ What’s one piece of advice you would give someone new to fitness + wellness?

Do something you love to get started, then every month try adding in something new. You don’t have to do everything at once! Experiment. Go slow. One thing at a time builds a habit and is a better predictor of success.

LIGHTNING ROUND!

Barre or Yoga? Yoga for sure.

Spin class or run? Run baby!

AM or PM workout? It varies these days with my schedule, but I feel best if I workout in the morning and don’t have it hanging over my head all day.

Smoothie or juice? Smoothie. Gotta love that fiber.

Group fitness or solo workout? Half and half. Love my alone time and inner-drive, but I can’t self-motivate all the time and I can work harder when I have someone telling me what to do! I believe in the coaching model and typically hire my own personal trainer on and off during the course of a year.

 

▶︎ Where I can find you on social media, and elsewhere?

Website + Blog //  www.FitVista.com
Instagram // michellefitvista
Health coaching client inquiries // michelle@fitvista.com