SPOTLIGHT ON COACH MIKE!
Earlier this year we did a blog series spotlighting our coaches and somehow we missed Coach Mike! (And he runs the blog! LOL) So here we go!
Nickname
Gormy is probably my most used nickname right now but back in college it was Red! Why? Ask me and I might tell you the story!
What is something about you we might not know?
I spent most of my career working in higher education and student development in residential life specifically! I was a Residence Hall Director at a variety of colleges for almost 15 years. Living and working with students taught me a lot about communication and community building, and specifically about helping individuals navigate the challenges of their whole life while they are extremely focused on a specific goal.
Favorite songs or podcasts to listen to when being active?
I tend to lean more towards podcasts than music when working out including fitness and mindset casts like Mark Bell’s Power Project, Ryan Michler’s Order of Man and Fouad Abiad’s Real Bodybuilding Podcast, but I am also a huge horror movie fan so I am often listening to the Straight Chilling Podcast, Horror Virgin and Don’t Go Out There!
What are your favorite Instagram accounts to follow?
Well aside from my fellow Keto Road team members I always keep up with @stellaisstriving, @a.d.keto and @comicanthonyd. I like to follow people that authentically share the ups and downs and all arounds of their lives.
Beside theketoroad.com, what are your go to sites for ketogenic support and recipes?
For recipes my usual go to is ketokeuhnnutrition.com because Abby focuses all of her recipes on being under 10g total carbs per serving! I am a long time fan as well of sites like dietdoctor.com and ketoconnect.net
Mike’s dog Bama accompanies him on many adventures!
How long have you been following a ketogenic lifestyle?
I have a very quick start and stop with keto in 2016, but my I feel it truly became a sustainable lifestyle for me in February of 2017.
Where did you first discover keto?
I had been a long time fan of the effects of lowering carbs on my cravings and food addiction issues but I did not really get into approaching keto as a diet until I read Vinnie Tortorich’s book Fitness Confidential. He didn’t use the term keto per se but he laid out an approach that made sense to me in his “No sugars, no grains” philosophy. Like most folk, aside from books, it was diving down the rabbit holes of YouTube and Reddit that started crafting a big picture for me.
Why are you keto?
I am a firm believer that in the end weight loss is about a caloric deficit but I am keto because it gave me the ability to relieve my incessant cravings and food obsessions that made all prior weight loss efforts about white knuckling through. With keto I found relief that made long term action possible, and along the way I discovered the added benefits of boundless energy, mental clarity and healing of blood sugar issues I was developing from my eating habits.
What was your biggest challenge adapting to a ketogenic lifestyle?
Honestly my initial biggest challenge was about access as in 2017 you could not find things like almond flour, ghee, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc. that I wanted to use in my cooking in every day grocery stores. So there was a lot of hunting down of ingredients and products. I am at heart a foodie and cook, so I definitely was overcomplicating things in many ways! LOL
What is your favorite thing about going keto?
Health benefits are fantastic but for me my favorite thing about going keto has been the people it has brought into my life, from true friends with common struggles to the people that I get to help daily through my instagram and coaching.
Some of the best folk out there!
What are your favorite and least favorite keto trends?
My favorite keto trend is probably the push to simplify our food. Meat, vegetables, low carb fruits and healthy fats are not things we need to search far and wide for and I appreciate the people who speak out on how you don’t have to make things complicated. Least favorite? For me it is definitely all of the “health and fitness experts” on social media who believe that the primary belief in the keto community is that “carbs made me fat.” They 100% miss the point and aren’t really listening to the voices in the keto space.
Why are you a coach?
I am a coach because I know what it feels like to feel lost when you are struggling to improve your health and build lasting change in your life. I firmly believe that accountability, support and consistency are the keys to success and I get to provide those things to my clients. I enjoy helping a client navigate their unique personal challenges and find the right path for themselves. A good coach empowers their clients to make the choices and take the actions they need in their life. I hope that this is something I provide!
What advice would you give someone looking for a coach?
Don’t be afraid to shop around! If you are making an investment in your health and future, you need to feel comfortable with the person you choose to help. See your first conversation with a potential coach as an interview, ask your important questions and consider their answers.
What is a goal you are working on currently?
Right now I am working on building strength in the gym. This takes a lot of consistency and a commitment to getting the work done so I can see if I am actually progressing. It also takes patience! I am excited to see where I can take this!
Interested in learning more about Coach Mike or his programs? Click here now!
