Monster in Training:
Thank you so much for taking the time to let us pick your brain. What an amazing career you’ve had so far! From from gracing the covers of Oxygen, to Fitness RX to American Curves, to competing in the top fitness contests across the nation, to finding the time to running an online training program, to hosting your very own Miami Beach Body Contest with your husband Anthony Presciano, you’ve touched and inspired countless fans – including us!
You seem to be surrounded by an abundance of amazing opportunities – how do you choose which ones to pursue?
Michele:
HUMMM well I’m in a position right now where i can choose what i want. When i started in the industry i was pretty much talking everything that was presenting to me. Money or no money involved, i would pay for my own traveling, i gave so much of my time and my energy to this industry but i was seeing something at the end. I knew it would end up to something bigger and better.
I have accomplished more then i asked for … and i still want more and bigger but i am trying to be more patience. I am looking for something really specific now in my career , i really want to take it to the next level and i know the right opportunity is going to come my way. I do have a lot of opportunities; movies, magazines, infomercials, etc…. And i don’t want to be that girl who takes everything, every single opportunities. I want them to run after me LOL
I have a manager now that helps me manage my career and take the right decisions, that makes all the difference in the world.
Monster in Training:
We’ve always felt that music makes the second best training partner (and sometimes the first!). What’s blasting through your IPod when you hit the gym?
Michele:
i cannot workout without music that’s for sure !! I have everything from House, trance music to hip hop and punk rock, depending on how I’m feeling. I do have my favorite songs that i play over and over again …:)
Monster in Training:
It’s “game day” – for you it could be a photo shoot or a show, for our readers it could be a wedding, a birthday, or the first big pool party of the season. If you had time for just one last 30 minute workout before Showtime to make it all “pop” what would your routine be?
Michele:
I would do high reps, and “pump” the muscles. you don’t need a lot of weights and you do about 30 reps, one to 2 exercise per muscle groups. Its going to make you look tighter and a bit more vascular.
Monster in Training:
J-Lo has insurance on her backside and Mariah Carey on her vocal chords; what would you get insurance on?it’s like a unique piece of art that nobody can duplicate lol
Michele:
hahahaha that’s a funny question. I would say my hole body ! because i worked so hard to bring it to that level It’s also very hard to maintain…it’s like a unique piece of art that nobody can duplicate lol
Monster in Training:
We all have a “vice” when it comes to foods – you know that favorite food that we just gotta have… What is yours and how do you deal with it when you indulge? oh my… sweets. I crave all kind of sweets . from gummy bears to ice cream to cheesecake.
I either go for it, if I’m not getting ready for a shoot or a contest , maybe once a week i will treat myself. and i try to choose a low carb , low fat , low sugar version of it so i don’t feel guilty for a week.
Michele:
To avoid it, i will chew gum like there is no tomorrow. I know it’s bad but at this point, when i crave sugar, i don’t even care.
Coffee actually helps me too with my cravings… but i can’t go for 5 coffees a day lol.
so i put crystal light in my water 
Monster in Training:
What exactly does a champion pro fitness model eat on a daily basis? Do you maintain the same diet year around?I have curves, i can still see my abs , somehow lol, i still fit in my jeans and I’m happy this way.
Michele:
well you have pro’s that diet super hard for a contest and then they eat whatever after a contest. I’ve seen this a few times… Some girls diet so hard , so they allow themselves a “off season”. But sometimes the off season can get pretty hard core.
And then you have girls that looks like they are competing all year long. They are super lean and vascular no matter what time of year it is… and then you have girls like me, that allow themselves to eat and enjoy life a little but more, and can still get away with a photo-shoot with a couple days/weeks notice.
i love to eat. i could not maintain a super lean body all year long… I have curves, i can still see my abs , somehow lol, i still fit in my jeans and I’m happy this way. Of course, there is a post contest depression that comes right after a show. It’s quite depressing, you gain 3 pounds and you feel like you gained 30. It can mess up with your head , that’s why sometimes girls develop an eating disorder, like bulimia… but let’s not go there….. I think more and more competitors try to keep a healthy physique because a lot of them do fitness modeling and promotional work. They have sponsors , they have to do appearances and guest posing.
So when i am competing i will go low carb. and when i am not competing I’ll have a bit more carbs and a cheat meal once a week. The food stays the same for me. I still eat chicken and fish and broccoli…. but i add a little something to it so it’s not that boring:)
Monster in Training:
There are a lot of readers that are just not motivated, or haven’t found that motivation… The guy or girl that isn’t noticeably overweight, but isn’t in shape either… They haven’t adopted working out as integral to their lifestyle yet. What motivates you? And more importantly what do you do when you know you gotta hit the gym, but you are dragging and don’t want to go?
Michele:
yeah i think the hardest part is to get motivated and stay motivated. I would say: get a trainer. he is gonna take care of you, will give you “homework” and push you in the gym.
put an inspirational picture on your fridge. Every time you feel lazy, or want to cheat on your diet, look at the picture and remember what your main goal is…. have a partner to go workout with. He/she will influence you in a good way.
Load your iPod with jamming songs!!!
I look at myself in the mirror lol, focus on things i don’t like and… I’m off to the gym !!!
Monster in Training:
A lot of our readers are not only concerned about their own fitness, but the fitness and health of the up and coming generation(s).. What are your thoughts on the Childhood Obesity epidemic that is poisoning our future? What do you think we should be doing as a society to help this massive problem?
Michele:
it’s sad but true. A lot of families are bringing there kids down with them…. It all start from the parents. They don’t do any sports, so the kids end up not being active… everything is about videos games, we take our cars to go every where. We become lazy , so do our kids.
I have seen improvement though. I just heard this morning on the radio that they would take the KIDS MEALS out of McDonalds because there not healthy enough so that’s a great move right there !!! we should have more decisions like this…. more and more you see fast foods restaurant have a healthy meal section, salads, wraps. Now it’s up too YOU to order that salad instead of the burger. Or order a burger and don’t eat the bread and forget about mayo and sauces.
It’s right there in there face , they have to be willing to do the changes by themselves.
It’s when they hit 300-400 pounds and have diabetes that they become aware and realize they have to make changes.but, what happened before that ?
We also have shows like the biggest looser that are an inspiration for theses people. It’s not impossible. but your coach can’t get off the couch for you. We live in a lazy society. Certain states like…California … every time i go there i see people running everywhere, super fit, super healthy…. Colorado, same thing.
i think we are going there , but slowly.
Monster in Training:
Creativity and muscle confusion are key to continued developed, not to mention to make sure we don’t get bored with the same old routine – besides the standard weight training and cardio work, what other types of workouts do you favor to keep your workouts fresh and exciting?
Michele:
i love to do conditioning & plyometrics, working with bands and ropes and T-RX…. it’s different, it’s fun and when i am not competing, i do this maybe 2-3 times a week.
Monster in Training:
There are a ton of young women that are considering fitness modeling/competing and you’ve hosted seminars on the subject… What words of wisdom can you share with them?
Michele:
i do get tons of emails from girls that want to get into fitness modeling. the question is how bad you want it? because your gonna have to put the time and effort to get at the top. People don’t realize how time consuming this job is. job.. more like a hobby.
I don’t know a lot of girls who can live out of fitness modeling. It’s not because you do magazine covers that your a millionaire ! lol
it can open doors , yes. You can meet amazing people in this industry, that are inspiring and will show you the way . You gotta be patience, you gotta make connections, you gotta choose the right photographers to shoot with. Looks easy right ? it’s not !!!
You gotta be willing to travel, miss work, keep working because you don’t make any money, compete to “be seen”, attend fitness shows and events, by new bikinis, outfits, hire a makeup artist.. all that you have to take it in consideration. You might even have to pay for a bad ass photographer to build your portfolio. They are so many girls out there, you gotta stand out. What do you have that the others don’t. Personality, charisma is super important….
and on the other end, don’t get discourage, and go get what you want. I had people stopping me, telling me i wouldn’t make it, but i decided to go for it, with no support, no agents, no agency that represents me…..Until this day i still don’t have anybody backing me up. except for my manager. he helps me take the right decisions and negotiate certain things. I don’t want people to get discourage either!! I want you to realize how a tough industry it is, and even more though to stay on top once your there.
Monster in Training:
What supplements do you use pre and post workout? Do they change as you near a competition?
Michele:
humm yes they change a little bit. I am not into supplements a lot. i take the basics, might take a fat burner but they pretty much stay the same.
Monster in Training:
Any upcoming events or products you want to promote and let our readers know about?
Michele:
well i do have my own company : protein cookies. yes… some of you wonder how i got there huh? lol
there are not many protein cookies on the market. And i figured with the right packaging and a unique taste it would work !!
well it is very promising. We started out pretty strong and we are only 3 months old. You can actually buy your trial kit on: mamadeesprotein.com
I am also working with a Producer to have my won fitness show…. It takes some time to create a show, do a pilot, present it to different channels but it’s all about being patience and my time will come
You know every week i get approached for different things, movies, energy drinks, swimsuit, etc….. I can’t say yes to everything and i don’t want too. When it will be the right thing for me, either the right product to represent or the right company to sign with, i will know it for sure. Right now, i am just enjoying being a new wife, focusing on MAMA DEE”s and the rest will come by itself:)
I’m not worried!
Monster in Training:
Thank you very much for you time Michele. I know our readers and I really appreciate it. Your success is truly an inspiration to us all!
~MonsterInTraining.com~
