DIET | DETECTIVE^®

As one of Hollywood's most sought after fitness experts and certified training consultants, his intention is to strengthen the spirit along with the body. Body Express Makeover focuses on his unique 2-in-1 Total-Body-Workout program that can be done for as little as ten minutes a day.

Through years of personal training experience and extensive education, Michael developed his own unique fitness technology, Integrated Motivational Fitness™ and he created the 2-in-1 training system highlighted in his upcoming book. This balanced fitness regime integrates the body-mind-spirit connection for optimal energy and health. Michael uses motivation, commitment and consistency as the integral components to achieving one's health and fitness goals, along with lifestyle transformation. His work encompasses almost all conditioning activities, including: aerobic and strength conditioning, yoga, core training, self-defense training, boxing, breathing exercises and meditation.

Michael knows what it feels like to make the transformation. When he moved to Southern California from his hometown of St. Louis at the age of 10, Michael described himself as “the chubby kid with bad eating habits and low self-esteem.” In high school he found his natural talent as an athlete playing baseball, football and wrestling that carried into his college years at California Polytechnic Institute. It was at Cal Poly that Michael became more engrossed in health & fitness through amateur bodybuilding and his self-esteem and personal power soared.

After graduating, Michael set off for Los Angeles to pursue his passion as a fitness professional and embark on a journey of personal growth through Eastern Philosophies and exercises that he incorporates into his workouts today. A-list celebs like Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Meg Ryan and Christian Slater gravitate towards these training routines and principles because they work.

Michael is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Michael is a spokesperson for numerous companies, including Nike, and is the star of several workout videos including the B-Fit series and Fast 10, Integrated Motivational Fitness. Michael currently lives in Southern California.

Name: Michael George

Birthday: June 24

Location: Southern Los Angeles

Website: www.michaelgeorge.com/

Question: What do you think is the most important thing that makes or breaks a diet/fitness program for someone?

Commitment to change.

Question: What is a “day-in-the life” of a celebrity trainer?  

My schedule is across the board. It starts w/ meditation and walking the dog or taking her to the dog park. My schedule is typically planned very tight. It can consist of training a few clients and then my 1^st workout of the day. Usually this is an hour of cardio and stretching. Then it may be lunch and desk work or a lunch meeting. After that anything goes. I typically have a lot of emails and phone calls to return. After which it may be a weight workout, boxing/martial arts or a Yoga class. Then I will usually have a meeting or two and a couple of clients. After that it’s home to feed/ walk the dog and get ready for a dinner meeting or social engagement. If I don’t have anything planned I chill at home with my dog and do catch up work and read. Some days consist of me traveling for Spokesperson obligations, on location with celeb clients, shooting TV shows or videos, conducting radio/ periodical interviews, speaking or working on my next book

Question: How do you get a client motivated to stick to a fitness program?  

I make them accountable for their actions or non action and everything they put in their mouth.

Question: Tell us the biggest secret that trainers typically don’t tell their clients but should?

With baby boom clients I sometimes have to have the Acceptance discussion with them. Everyone expects to look and feel like they did in their 20’s and that is just unrealistic for most people in their late 30’s, 40’s or 50’s. We all have to accept the fact that we are getting older, our priorities change and accept the fact that we can only push our bodies so hard and so far before it begins to break down due to age.

Question: In all your years of training what do you consider the best exercise (e.g. lunge) (not with weights)?  

Burpees

Question: If you could only do only one strength training exercise what would it be?

Push ups

Question: If you could eat one forbidden or unhealthy food (candy, cakes, etc..) whenever you wanted without gaining weight, what would it be?  Cheesecake

Question: What is the one food or meal you always eat before training? What do you advise clients to eat?

I typically have an egg white protein shake with berries or some fruit an hour and a half to two hours prior to my workout.

Question: What do you consider the world’s most perfect food?

There is no one perfect food. If I had to answer that question it would be an egg white omelet w/ lots of veggies and avocado slices on top.

Question: Is there anything about yourself that you've changed your mind about in the last 10 years? Life does not have to be difficult or stressful.

Once we really deep down accept that we have no control over people, places and things life becomes much easier.

Question: On those days when you're not motivated to work out, but you should, what's the one thought that gets you going?  

Just do the first 10 minutes of cardio! After that I know the adrenaline and endorphins will kick in and energize me.

Question: What person do you respect most, or who motivates you?

Lance Armstrong

Question: What do you do to reduce stress/relax/center your mind? 

 I do meditation daily and I am a Yoga practitioner.

Question: If you had to choose a specific song or band to get you psyched for your workout, what would it be? What other songs are on your iPod?

Kid Rock. Other artists: Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone, Black Crows, the Blues.

Question: Do you have a Calorie Bargain? What food did it replace? Was that an important food in your diet, since you ate it so often?

Sorry, I eat a very healthy diet.  I eat everything in moderation and do not feel deprived in any way. It’s all about changing your palette. One thing I do is I have a bottle or two of Fruit2O throughout the day to make sure I stay hydrated. Sometimes just water can be a little boring so having a no calorie, no carbohydrate water like Fruit2O is a healthy alternative that helps you stay hydrated. They also have a new vitamin-enhanced line to help get all the daily vitamins you need.

Question: What's the most bodacious chance you've ever taken?

Moving to Mammoth Mountain after high school and before college to be a ski bum for a year.

Question: What was your worst summer job?

My first one at age 15. Watering the new lawn of the new City Hall in Camarillo. It was a huge area to water and extremely boring to do it with just a hose.

Question: Define failure. Failure is the key to success. You have to be willing to fail repeatedly, even fall flat on your ass, to succeed in life.

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written by Gretchen Mottice, June 22, 2007

Great article.