WWBIC’s business advisor feeling busy at fitness boot camp

Nearly 30 top-level professionals are competing in the second annual Fittest Executive Challenge, presented by In Business magazine. Who will earn the healthiest marks? Find out at the In Business Expo & Conference on Oct. 23.

This week, Michelle Anich, business advisor for the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp., shares her experience participating in the “Most Improved Woman” challenge.

Why are you participating in the Fittest Executive Challenge?

I’ve been on a “workout hiatus” for over two years, feeling sluggish and not good about myself at all. I thought this would be a great opportunity to give me a kick-start to a healthier lifestyle.

Tell us about your fitness regimen.

I began by enrolling in Dustin Maher’s Fit Fun Bootcamp and committed myself to working out three times a week at 5:30 a.m. in McFarland. It was one of the best decisions I have made for myself in a very long time! A friend caught me at a weak moment and talked me into joining. Prior to this, I preferred to work out alone and not in groups, and I certainly wouldn’t have challenged myself to a boot camp for fear of failure. The trainers and the group of people I exercise with every week have changed my life — and that may even be an understatement!

How has your workout changed?

I came into this challenge knowing that I wasn’t the type of person who would commit to exercising every single day and that I would be okay with whatever results I got by putting in three (sometimes four if I could make Saturday) days of boot camp. The great thing about boot camp exercising is that the workout is different every single time; you never know what they are going to challenge you to do, so you can’t get worried about it. You just go with the flow.  Everyone is in the same boat, and we all work through it together and end up feeling amazing at the end!

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What are you doing to prepare for your evaluation?

Well, all of the above, of course. I always ate fairly healthy, and it was important for me to eat with my family and not miss the foods I enjoy (my husband is an amazing cook!). I cut my portion sizes down quite a bit to decrease my calorie intake while still allowing myself to enjoy the good things in life!

How do you stay motivated?

Knowing that my workout boot camp “team” will be showing up every time definitely gives me the motivation to show up, too, no matter what! Also, my friend Peggy Gunderson and I keep each other accountable weekly (sometimes daily). I decided not to weigh myself regularly, so for a long time I had no idea what I weighed. However, I recently had to see the doctor and found out my weight and was very pleased to see the results so far. For the most part, I measure things based on how my clothes fit and all the new (old) clothes I can now wear again.

On a side note, I also was chosen as a perfect match to donate bone marrow to someone (unknown) who has severe aplastic anemia, a deadly blood disease. I have to be in top shape health-wise in order to do this donation on Aug. 27. That definitely has been a huge motivator and a life-changing experience for me.

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