The “Hitch” Of Fitness
Health & Fitness Professional
Micah “Hitch” Lacerte
Author/Interviewer: Rebeca Santana
Interviewing: Micah “Hitch” Lacerte

Micah Lacerte known by many as “Hitch”, a Health and Fitness professional who has achieved major life
accomplishments through commitment, dedication, and training. As you will read below in our interview
Micah went through a rough period in his life, he was faced with a terrible unforeseen circumstance that
might have caused anyone else to give up all together. Micah fought the negative mentality of just letting
go and started to train hard and trained harder than ever because he knew this was the only way for him to
get back to where he wanted to be. Contrary to “possible” belief, Micah has not always looked as
“Healthy” (haha) as he looks now; he was actually very skinny as a teenager, but started to exercise at a
young age. Micah has been exercising for years and has accomplished this all naturally by sticking to a
healthy diet, exercising, and later on in life also eliminating any and all negativity.

R: Hey There Micah, Thank you so much for taking the time out of your crazy schedule for this interview.
M: You are very welcome. I’m excited to share my story in hopes to motivate and inspire others.

R: So Micah you also go by the nickname “Hitch”, I’m sure everyone is wondering as well; where did the
nickname “Hitch” come from?
M: Haha, I get this question all the time. Well back when I first got on Myspace I wanted to use
more of a nickname like many others were using. My best friend used to call me Hitch after the
Movie came out because I had hooked up so many of my buddies with their future wives. He used to
say I was the Hitch of fitness giving people hope again. I started using it on Myspace and then I was
known at Hitch. I would actually be in other cites and people would say “hey aren’t you Hitch from
Myspace?” Funny stuff.

R: HaHa!! Oh, I see, well the name sure suites you well, the “Hitch” of fitness! So tell me a little about
yourself and your background?
M: I was born in Kansas City, I am an only child raised by my mother. We moved all over when I
was a kid. I lived in San Diego, Seattle, North Carolina finally moving back to Kansas City to
graduate high school and college. I graduated with a Business marketing degree but shortly after
college realized my passion was in fitness and helping others. I started modeling on the side to make
extra money and figured I worked so hard in the gym I wanted to one day be in a fitness magazine.
In 2004 I got my big break and landed a TV reality show called Manhunt. It was similar to
America’s next top model but for men, Carmen Electra was the host. I got cut pretty early in the
show for being too much of a fitness body but through the show I got some great connections, which
got me my first fitness cover on Men’s Workout in 2005. Since then I have been featured in over
fifty (50) national magazines including, Muscle and body cover alongside Jennifer Nicole Lee,
Muscle and Fitness, Exercise and Health, Men’s Workout, Exercise for Men, Physique, Status, etc. I have also been on
three (3) TV reality shows, Manhunt, Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency and Split Ends. One thing
I have always remembered is to stay humble and if you want something bad enough go for it. Just
recently I competed at the WBFF World Championships where I placed 8th in Fitness Model and
shoot with Status, Inside Fitness, and Maximum Fitness. I opened hitch Fit gym here in Kansas City
and a Hitch Fit Online program where I have over 150 clients in 25 different countries worldwide which just recently got voted #1 Online Personal training System in the World. I stay super busybut love what I do, waking up everyday knowing I am helping people. That is whereI find my happiness and energy!! 

R: Congrats on your many great accomplishments, and we will go back to them a little late. I know you
went through a tough period in your life due to some unforeseen circumstances that occurred; tell me a
little about that, what happen?
M: In 2005 soon after my Men’s Workout cover came out I was at the peak of my career. I had some
huge opportunities in La and was considering moving there. My mother and I were driving to the
airport one day and a man’s latter had fallen off the back of his truck. We had to swerve to get out
of the way and ended up running into another truck. Within days I was unable to tie my shoes. I
had gotten major whiplash from my lower back all the way up to my neck. I could NO longer
workout and was going to the chiropractor about 4 times a week for 5-6 months. In that period of
time I lost over 35 lbs of muscle. It was the most depressing time of my life. I had everything then
suddenly it all vanished. I started living a lifestyle that was not good… staying out late, drinking, and
eating badly to pillow the depression.

R: Wow Micah, that’s quite a horrible situation to deal with, it must have been scary for everything to
vanish at the blink of an eye, literally. About how long after did you decide you wanted to make positive
changes in your lifestyle?
M: It was about one (1) year after the accident that I got an unexpected phone call from a friend in
La. She told me that Jennifer Nicole Lee and I were on the cover of Muscle and Body magazine.
This was the spark I needed and trust me I went full force. I woke up the next day and looked in the
mirror. I remember telling myself that today is the first day I take control again, cut every negative
out and get my life back. So that is exactly what I did. I worked super hard to get my body back and
started marketing myself again. It’s hard living in Kansas City and making it on the national level
but I did what I had to do to make things work. That truly helped me to be who I am today.

R: You came back, and stronger than ever! What goals did you set for yourself once your decided to make
a change?
M: I had one goal… Cut everything negative out. I knew that, that in itself would open up all the
doors again.

R: That was a great idea, cut out all the negativity in your life. What made you change your life and want
to accomplish these goals?
M: Knowing that at any minute I could lose everything. Going through that uncontrollable event
opened my eyes up to how valuable our lives really are. You must live each day being humble and
working hard to help others because at any given minute you may no longer be here. I just have
been so blessed with the opportunities that have come out of all this and my life is now surrounded
around giving back to those that are in similar situations as I was.

R: Would you say your motivation was intrinsic or extrinsic and what were they?
M: I would say more intrinsic because I had to work from within opposed to externally. Obviously I
wanted to get my body back but it first took getting my mental state and lifestyle back. My
motivation was just being the happy, healthy person I once was.

R: Good for you, you know intrinsic motivation is worth much, much more than extrinsic, because like u
said it comes from a motivation within. What type of physical training did you engage in to reach your
goal?
M: I put my body through things that many people cannot withstand. When I get in focus mode I do
some pretty crazy things. People want to assume I was born with the body I have or had to take
steroids to get here, but when they meet me and see how I live and train they start to understand how
I became the way I am. I love pushing my body through extreme weight training and aerobic
training to get it to another level.

R: So wait a min… You weren’t born (we’ll call it) as “Healthy” looking as you look??? HaHa!! So would
you say you also had to engage in some mental training in order to reach your goal?
M: Haha! Well, in every transformation it must first start mentally. It’s all the choices outside the
gym that cause you to fail or succeed.

R: Very true. You cut out certain things, situations, places, jobs, and people out of your life in order to
make positive changes in your life, tell me about that.
M: Well I was fully aware of what I was doing wrong because I once lived a lifestyle that was right
but for those that only know one way to live they must cut out things that hold them back from
succeeding. Those people in my life that were there for a season (as I call them) needed to go, the
ones that only were around when they needed a buddy to go drink with, needed to go! The bad
lifestyle had to go, no more late nights and eating bad foods. I quit everything negative and cut
everyone. You at times feel alone but it’s what you must do to get your life to a place of peace and
health.
R: What do you feel was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
M: The only obstacle anyone has is thyself. If you get control of your choices and make the right
choices there is nothing that can hold you back.

R: Did you have any mental obstacles to overcome as well? How did you overcome them?
M: Yes mentally I was depressed, I looked in the mirror and hated what I looked like and hated the
way I was living. It was a snowball of negativity that had consumed me. I took control again telling
myself daily that I was in control and I was happy. In time I was back where I was, from that point I
wanted more and went for it.

R: You were back to the good’ol Hitch! Did you train on your own or did you have a partner? If so, what
value were they to you?
M: I train on my own. It is my time of the day that I had ME time. I can focus on releasing stress
and bettering myself, so I choose to train alone.

R: I agree, I personally like to train alone as well, too many distractions when training with others. How
did they help you both physically and mentally?
M: Haha! Does it count that I talk to myself when I train? It may sound weird to those who have
brothers and sisters but us only-child kids talk to ourselves. During workouts I push myself by
talking to myself… I know it sounds strange but it works for me.

R: HaHa!! Hey, whatever works for you, and it looks like it sure is working!! Was there a point that you
felt like you just wanted to give up during training? If so, how did you overcome this?
M: No, I never gave up, it is my time of the day that I focus on nothing else but myself and is a huge
part in keeping myself balanced physically and mentally.

R: What would you say kept you motivated throughout?
M: Knowing that the harder I worked the harder others would work. If I could instill strength in
others through my hard work then I was succeeding!!

R: What were some thoughts that you had during a low point while attempting to accomplish this goal?
M: That I never wanted to be at this point again. The pain, the mental letdown and the everyday
struggle, reassured myself that the work I was putting in would get me away from that dark point.

R: How easy or how difficult was this goal for you?
M: It was a struggle because when I started training again, I only remembered myself being the way
I was. I would out weight on the bench press or squat and was nowhere close to what I once was.
This in time only pushed me harder and harder.

R: Yes, that must have been a bit of a struggle to overcome. Tell me how fitness has improved your
quality of life for the better?
M: Fitness is my life 100%; every choice I make is about bettering my life and influencing people to
do the same. Without fitness and healthy living I would not be the same person.

R: Did you ever think, as a youngster, that you would be engaged in this type of physical and mental
challenge?
M: I was always competitive but I never thought I would be at the level I am now, I not only
surprised myself but I have surprised all my friends and family.

R: How did you stay focused and committed to your goal?
M: I only know one way of living and focus… and that is always giving 100%!

R: What does ‘dedication’ mean to you?
M: Dedication to me is to be willing to give up every single negative in your life to better your life.

R: That’s certainly dedication! Tell me about the moment that you realized you had met your goal. What
was going through your mind?

M: The first time I got in a magazine I was so excited, I think I may have cried, I was so excited. I
wanted that feeling to last forever. All that hard work had paid off. Over time it was more about
everyone else rather than it being about me, because being in magazines means I am inspiring others
to get in shape.

R: You are a great inspiration to many! Tell me about all your achievements? What have you done since
then? What are you doing to motivate and educate others in health & fitness?
M: Well I started back up in the summer of 2007 and since then have been featured in Muscle and
Fitness three (3) more times, in the French edition of Muscle and Fitness, multiple other magazines
and TV reality shows, but most importantly I found my purpose in life. I have the gift of inspiring
and motivating so I do everything I can to help as many people as I can.

R: Back then (in your younger years) did you ever think in a million years you would look like this and
would be doing what you do now? (Personal trainer, fitness model, life coach)
M: As a kid I would watch Jean-Claude Van Damme movies and that’s who I wanted to be and look
like. As I built my body I would get people saying I looked like Van Damme, it was funny. I never
knew in a million years I would be in the place I am but I am very thankful to be in this position.

R: Yes, you do look like Mr. Van Damme! Haha! Well I do want to congratulate you on your book, DVD,
recent opening of your own personal training/fitness center “Hitch Fit”, and your many accomplishments.
What other goals do you have for yourself in the near future?
M: Well I want to expand more with the Hitch Fit online and Hitch Fit gyms. I am looking to
franchise a few more Hitch Fit gyms nationally and plan on writing another book soon. The one
thing I love about my job and life is that everyday new doors open with opportunities. It makes
waking up everyday awesome.

R: Great! What is your plan on achieving these new goals?
M: I just take one day at a time. Like any goal I set small goals to achieve my big goals. One step at
a time…

R: That is actually a GREAT strategy in order to accomplish goals; small goals which lead to achieving the Big goal

R: Awesome! Some final thoughts from Micah…
M: In life we go through ups and downs. Succeeding is not all about what we have or what we make
but who we are inside. Do the best in your life to make the best choices you can and work hard.
Once you reach your level of success give back to those that need the same guidance you once needed.
Last but not least if you have a dream and you have passion NEVER GIVE UP!!!

R: Great words!! Micah Thank you so much for your time!! 
M: Thank you so much for the opportunity I hope you have a great day!!!

Micah LaCerte- Personal trainer/Life Coach/Lifestyle coach
www.hitchfit.com

www.hitchfitgym.com

Make sure to add us on Face book www.facebook.com/hitchfit

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