Meet Stamford mom Michelle Schwartz from F45. A personal trainer who lives in town with her husband and one-year-old son, Austin, Michelle is a former soccer player who has always been involved in some form of exercise. After overcoming an eating disorder, she started to take nutrition and fitness more seriously, and became certified as a personal trainer. She also has an app to help women workout during their pregnancy and beyond.
To learn more about Michelle, read the interview, follow her @F45_training_stamfordharborpt, @fitstagram.michelle and visit the website.
How many children do you have and what are their ages?
Austin is my only child (so far), and he just turned one.
What brought you and your family to town?
My husband and I moved to Stamford right out of college when he got a job in the area. Being from Philly, we always thought our time in CT would be short, but we quickly fell in love with the area, the people, and the community here. We’ve been here 8 years and love it more than ever.
What’s your favorite aspect about being part of the community?
It is so difficult to choose just one thing. Not to sound cliché, but this community has truly become our family. It is so easy to make friends and find things in common with those around us. From the gym, to church, to mom groups, and more, there is never a time when I feel alone. Everyone is so accepting and encouraging.
What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
We’re true fitness lovers, so our favorite thing to do is ride our bikes or go for a stroll around our neighborhood. Being outside is so refreshing.
Can you please tell us a bit about your path to health and fitness?
I have always had a passion for health and fitness. My mom and two of my sisters are nurses, so it was always a part of my lifestyle growing up. I played soccer as a child into college, so fitness was necessary and essential to my sport, but it took a rough time in my life to find a love and passion for health and fitness together. I struggled with an eating disorder in late high school and college, and it brought me to my knees. It took me some time, but health and fitness helped deliver me from the disorder – I found how to respect my body, inside and out. I fell in love with challenging and loving my body with working out and with proper nutrition. As my passion grew, I decided to get my personal training certification to learn more for my own journey. I then fell in love with the group fitness arena at F45 and it has just progressed from there!
You are a prenatal and postpartum fitness specialist and are a certified personal trainer. We imagine you have a very rewarding job. What is your favorite aspect of working in fitness?
My favorite thing is knowing how my actions and words can truly change lives. I can’t even explain how fulfilling it is to have someone approach me to let me know my advice and coaching helped them in their fitness career, lifestyle, and birth journey. The thing is, fitness is not just aesthetics and gym life, it affects the entirety of your life.
What can someone expect at F45?
F45 is unlike any other gym or fitness studio – it is personal training in a group setting. So you get plenty of coaching time one-on-one, but you also have a full studio of people pushing their own limits, high energy all around, engaging music, and fierce workouts. The beauty of F45 is that you can be 19 years old in college sports or a 70 year old working out next to each other, doing the same workout, and being pushed to your own personal best. We can modify your exercises as needed for injury, ability, and pregnancy.
Tell us about F45 and the programming you offer?
You’ll never see the same workout twice, and we use functional exercises to help you approach real life with strength and endurance. We vary workouts by day of the week, Monday and Wednesday are HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday are strength-based workouts, and Friday and Saturday are a combination of strength and HIIT. You’ll get a killer workout any and every day of the week, and it is designed to allow you to come in day after day for new and exciting movements.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Honestly, it is pushing and encouraging people to reach new heights in their health and fitness journeys. When someone reaches a goal they never knew they were capable of, I can’t help but find joy in the fact that I was a part of that path.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Being present transforms your kids’ lives more than you know. Aim to spend time with them, no matter what you’re doing.
Do you have any advice for parents who are looking to get started with F45?
I sure do! Find a time that works for your family’s schedule. Maybe it’s getting to the gym at 6am before your kids wake up, or going at lunchtime or after work when your significant other can watch the kids. If you don’t feel like you have the energy to workout, just step into the studio and you’ll instantly get a boost! Plus, our workouts are only 45 minutes long – you CAN spare less than an hour to work on yourself. You’re getting healthier for yourself, but also for your family!
How do you unwind when you need some “me time?”
I’m a sucker for a walk outside or a baking show on Netflix. I try to choose things that fuel me in some way while allowing me to detach from stress and work and busyness.
Any words of wisdom?
Each day has it’s own worries. Don’t worry about the past or the future, but be present in the here and now. Take advantage of the NEW opportunity daily to become a deeper and stronger version of yourself. Why wait until tomorrow? Do ONE SMALL thing today that you can be proud of.
Anything to add? Feel free to add whatever you want the readers to know!
I am so passionate about pregnancy and postpartum fitness. If you or someone you know is pregnant, thinking of getting pregnant, and postpartum, come join my fitness app to safely and effectively workout. Visit Fitstagrammichelle.com to get started for FREE!
We love supporting local businesses. Favorite places in town or nearby to…
Have dinner with/without kids: Café Silvium
Grab a drink with friends: Quartiere
Have a date night: Barcelona
Spend time together as a family indoors/outdoors: Norwalk Aquarium
Shop for yourself/shop for your kids: Is it acceptable to say Target? I can get everything I need/want there!
Spa/salon (or anywhere you go to treat yourself): Spavia Stamford
Grab coffee: Winfield Coffee