In life we all are inspired by someone well this person who I have the honor of speaking about is a very inspirational figure in the fitness industry. He has been a top fitness model in the industry for the last several years now. He has been published in some of the biggest magazines in the world such as Muscle and Fitness, Exercise and Health, Status Fitness, Inside Fitness etc. He has also has been on 4 covers but this is only a fraction of what he has accomplished in his career.
This top Fitness model has a very successful personal training company called Hitch-Fit which is based out in Kansas City, Missouri. He has changed so many people’s lives in helping them get fit. His business continues to get positive raves in the Kansas City community and is considered one of the top personal training businesses in Kansas City. I would like to introduce to the readers of physique magazine my good friend and top fitness model and trainer Micah “Hitch” La Certe.
Obi: Micah, It is a pleasure to get the opportunity to interview you for Physique Magazine which is the only bodybuilding magazine in Dubai. How does it feel to be featured in the only bodybuilding magazine in Dubai?
First off i want to thank Physique Magazine for the opportunity. Getting my word out worldwide about health and fitness is my main goal and passion. Its amazing to be able to reach a audience so far away, being able showing Dubai who Micah LaCerte is and and inspiring people all over the world to do more in their lives.
Obi: Micah, you’ve been in over 40 magazines domestically and internationally from my research. How does someone get the opportunity to do that? That is an incredible achievement and sounds like a lot of photo-shoots my friend.
I started working out when I was 18 years old. I was always a skinny kid growing up so initially i started working out because i wanted to get bigger. Little did I know years later I would apprear on national magazine covers. Im from Kansas City which is a small place and fitness modeling is non existant here. The biggest struggle was getting my images in front of the people who could make things happen. I got my big break by landing a tv reality show called Manhunt that was shot in Los Angeles. Soon after the show I reconnected with one of the producers of the show and he gave me the first contact to a photographer that helped me land the cover of Mens Workout in 2005. From that I kept making contacts and built my online presence. I have been modeling now for 6 years within that period of time i would estimate I have shot near 10000 images or more. The main thing i wanted to achieve was to learn how my body worked and to become very comfortable in front of the camera. When you first get into the industry you have to first realize that it takes time to be one of the guys you see in the magazines. There are many guys out there that never get in the mags or become successful with it because they give up to soon or may not meet the right connection. If you want to become a fitness model my advise to you Follow your Dream, never let anyone hold you back and never give up
Obi: Micah, What is your training regimen to maintain all that muscle you carry in the offseason? I know you are much bigger in the offseason and I am sure the readers would want to find out your diet and training regimen in the offseason.
Yes my offseason is about 15-20lbs heavier. In shoot shape im about 195-200 at 3-5% bodyfat and off season im 210-220 at 7-9% bodyfat. It takes me about 2-4 weeks to get in shoot shape. I personal train 55-65 hours a week and have over 150 clients online so staying super ripped year round is very hard for me to do so i use the foods I consume as energy. Typically when you are super lean you are also much lower in energy. When im bulking I take in about double the amount of calories and carbs then I do during shooting or comp shape. I do very little cardio during bulking or offseason cause my main goal is to hold more muscle so that when I do lean down again i come in bigger and more ripped. I am a hardgainer so putting on mass is more difficullt for me then getting lean. I have to consume large amounts of food everyday to add size on. If i lived in Los Angeles or New York and was shooting non stop I would stay in tip top condition but now I focus more on my training business and helping others. I shoot for mags now about 4-6 times per year the rest of my time is focused on building or maintaining muscle. As far as my workouts go when I am training for size I lift much heavier, take more rest. When Im leaning down i incorporate sprinting and high intensity training such as Tabata Intervals. I workout 5-6 days per week for about 60 minutes a session
Obi: How important is working out to you? Do you ever give your body rest and take time off? What is the longest time you’ve taken off from the gym because you wanted to?
Since the age of 18 I have not taken longer then 3 days off from the gym other then if I got sick or a uncontrollable situation. The gym is my life now and working out is nothing but positive return. You feel better, you look better and its a great stress relief. Taking rest is important but recovery happens if you are sleeping well and eating right. You recover quicker and you are ready to hit that muscle group again!!!
Obi: Obviously we know the name of your gym is called Hitch-Fit. How did you come about this name Hitch-Fit for your business and what it does it mean?
Hitch was a Nickname I was given to by my best friend, Nolan. When the movie Hitch came out he said I was the Hitch of fitness. I would give people hope when they felt there was no hope. I have had some amazing client transofrmations and helped changed peoples life for the better. I teach a lifestyle, its more than fitness and eating right, its about making the right choices day in day out that will help you succeed in anything you do. I started using it as a Alias on myspace more as a joke then anything a few years ago, little did I know Hitch would become my brand name.
Obi: You’ve been one of the most influential people in Kansas City in terms of your involvement with health and fitness. How does it feel when one of your clients says you changed my life and I am inspired by you?
I get very emotional when a client transforms. I go through all the pain and struggles through their journey with them. I get see them fight through it and finish the transformation looking and feeling great. There is no better feeling in the world for me then to help someone in this way. I really feel I was born to do what I am doing. I work very hard to be the best I can be and inspire as many people in Kansas city and worldwide as I can and will continue to do this for the rest of my life. I feel I have been as successful as I have because I practice everything I preach. I teach people my lifestyle and help them implement it into their life. Some people I never get to meet in person but transformations have happened all over the world because i try and instill belief and confience in a person again so they can battle through their struggle and help them reach their goals.
Obi: We hear that you recently opened up your own gym in Kansas City for your business. How has that transition been for you and how has it helped your personal-training business?
It is always scary opening a business at a time of such ecomomic struggle but I was very confident that Hitch Fit would be successful. Since day 1 both Diana and I have been non stop. We have been featured on NBC news locally, did a biggest loser challenge with 5 contestants which in 6 weeks lost 65 lbs total. Diana and I were on the covers of a fitness magazine here in kansas city and featured as top 100 people shaping up Kansas City. In 2010 we are working with a local radio station and plan on doing more charity work. One of my main goals is starting Hitch Fit Kids all geared for families and children teaching then nutrition and working out. We are dealing with great increases in obesity and its 100% controllable with the right education. I just recently hired on another train James Hanton who has been a great asset to Hitch Fit and another piece of the puzzle that will help transform even more people. The great thing about having my own place is I can do things exactly how I want to do them. Its about the client and transforming them.
Obi: Micah, What is your diet training regimen when you are not at home and you are out of town and you don’t have access to a gym? Could you explain to the readers how you are able to still workout if you can’t find a gym and you are confined to a hotel room?
Its funny I am soon going to right a blog about this one. When I am out of town I bring a majority of my food with me. All my protein, blender other supplements and make enough food for 1-2 days. I always bring one bag thats full of all my foods and supplies When I get to my hotel I try to find a local grocery store to go get all the food I need. If I do go out to eat I still make sure to eat the healthy foods. If I do not have a gym to go to then I workout in my hotel room either with resistance bands that I may have brought or make up a workout I can do with movements such as pushups, crunches, dips, shoulder circles, lunges, squats, jumps, jumping jacks, high knees. Key when you are on the road is to make the right choices with foods and to get workouts in , even 30 minutes in a hotel room works great
Obi: Micah you are still very young in the fitness industry which gives your fans in the industry to still see you do some exciting things. Do you have any fitness modeling projects you are working on?
I just recently got the opportunity to be a Writer and Blogger for Status Fitness Magaizine. That Im sure will open huge doors of helping others and possible photoshoots. I will be attending the Arnold Fitness Expo in March of 2010 and will shoot for a few different magazines there. I love shooting because the magazine exposure inspires others to follow their dreams.
Obi: Where do you see yourself 5 to 7 years from now in this fitness industry?
In the next few years I plan on franchieing Hitch Fit Nationally and moving to Hawaii and opening up shop there. Waking up everyday to beach and helping people get in great shape. I cannot wait. Being in the magazines allows me to share my word, my goal is to help as many people as I can and insipre then to become more. I will take every good opportunity that comes my way and wake up everyday trying to become more as a person and a inspiration.
Obi: Do you have any last things to say to your fans and friends reading this feature interview?
I just want to thank my firneds, family and fans for all their positive support. I want to thank my clients for working so hard and showing me that what I am doing has helped change their life. Something I always tell people is once you have control of your choices you have control of your life, from there anything is possible. You want something bad enough make the best positive choices you can day in day out and work as hard as you can to reach your dreams. Again thank you for this great opportunity. You can follow me at
www.hitchfit.com or www.hitchfitgym.com
Micah LaCerte
micah@hitchfit.com
Micah it really was an honor to interview you as you’ve helped out so many people get in great shape through hitchfit. You are one of the most inspirational fitness models in the industry and a very good person that I can call a friend. Physique Magazine wishes you much success in your career. Thank You so much for sharing your story with us Micah!
Photo Credits: Andre Deloach, Will Patterson and David Bickley
Interview: Obi Obadike
The Mind and Muscle Connection.