Today we’d like to introduce you to Eva Williams.
Hi Eva, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, my parents introduced me to various extracurricular activities from piano lessons to karate, track, tennis, cheerleading, basketball, and the list only got longer as I grew older. I was officially introduced to sports (including the rules of the game of basketball) at the age of six. Out of all of the sports and activities I participated in, I took a special liking to track and cross country (not to say that those were my highest performing sports). I continued running track and cross country throughout high school and college. The way running makes me feel is almost indescribable… Like a runner’s high at its highest. Whether I was running in meets or running for fun, it never mattered. I just wanted to run. Winning was just a plus. Even today, although I no longer run on a collegiate level, I continue to run for my health. My mental, physical, and emotional health. Exercising, in general, makes me feel 10xs better than I do when I’m not exercising. Being a doctoral candidate in psychology, I am familiar with the effects physical health has on mental health and how the two are integrated.
More specifically, when I decided to take a break from exercising in 2019, I found myself experiencing many imbalances in my life. My eating scheduled changed for the worst. I was eating less, my skin had gotten the worse it had ever been in my life, my energy was low, I was very irritable, and I honestly lacked the desire to be around anyone. It was almost like I became sick and exercising was the cure. Although this was a choice, I decided to move forward with this break because I felt like I had been going so hard for so long and my body needed a break. That was not the case. I needed to change the way I trained. I had not been allowing myself time to recover. I would work out 6-7 days a week and sometimes twice a day, just because I loved the way I felt and the energy I had afterwards. During this break, my body fat decreased and I lost 14lbs in less than two months. This was unintentional and honestly unhealthy for me. I spent the last four months of 2019 diving into books and other resources about healthy eating habits and maintaining a healthy lifestyle inside and outside of the gym.
In 2020, I decided to continue furthering my education and knowledge about carb cycling, the effects of exercise on the brain, the metabolic process, and of course, gaining muscle mass. I made the decision to become a personal trainer in May of 2020. My passion in fitness and desire to maintain a healthy life are what motivated me to gain my certification as a personal trainer, start my brand, and guide other people who may have a hard time reaching their health goals alone (or who simply don’t want to take their health journey alone). I believe that people who hate the gym or hate exercising are doing it wrong. Exercising should not be seen as a punishment but as a reward. I’ve come to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and how much our body appreciates us when we take care of it with the proper nutrition and exercise. A lifestyle in any aspect includes a process that can be ever-changing and will essentially look different for everyone. And that’s ok. Now, in 2021, I can honestly say that I love what I do and it’s a privilege to wake up every day knowing that I get to help other people experience their “runner’s high.”
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One thing I struggle with as a trainer is social media. Prior to starting my business, I made posts maybe once a month. I never took the time to interact with people on social media, and I never knew what to post. I also considered myself an introvert for a while. When I introduced my brand, I noticed how many people appreciated my posts, and I received (and continue to receive) so much love. The feedback I received after introducing my brand fueled my drive. I still struggle with social media, though. Although interactions have become a lot more exciting for me, I noticed that with social media, just like anything else, you get out what you put in. With that being said, I do believe I have become more open with sharing things about myself outside of the gym.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently a 2nd-year graduate student. I will graduate in 2025 with my doctorate in clinical psychology. I work with children with autism part-time but intend to specialize in forensics. Mental health is and will always be relevant. In the gym, at home, in the workplace, in social settings, etc. I am most proud of the mental and physical health services I have provided to the youth and adolescent population. After completing my postdoc, I desire to focus on the adolescent population by providing integrated care as a fitness trainer and psychologist.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
One thing that people may not know about me is that I play the acoustic guitar. I grew up playing the piano and learned how to read music in the 3rd grade, which made learning the guitar a bit easier. I was introduced to the guitar two years ago and still practice in my free time. I play the same four songs, two of which are by Ed Sheeran, the other two are by Daniel Caesar and Erykah Badu.
Contact Info:
- Email: evamichelle@themichfit.com
- Instagram: _themichfit
Image Credits
Jay Lenard (photographer for *black and white photo only*) – Brandon Moss (photographer for *green two-piece set photo with white shoes*)
