The Psyche Behind the Physique

The Psyche Behind the Physique

by Maddy Michielssen

Fitness Mental Health

Season 1

Control Isn’t Health – Redefining Your Relationship with Food

In this week’s episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, IFBB Pro and MPowered Coaching Collective head coach Maddy Michielssen gets real about something that might hit close to home—and ruffle a few feathers. Maddy opens up about her own struggles with control disguised as "health," the hidden challenges of post-show transitions, and how she redefined her relationship with food. If you’ve ever confused control with balance or felt guilt over indulging, this episode is for you. Maddy reminds us that true health is about listening to your body, enjoying life’s moments, and finding freedom in food—whether that’s enjoying a hubcap-sized pancake or learning to trust your hunger and fullness cues. Ready to take the next step in your own journey? Whether you’re just starting with weight loss, working on functional health, or stepping into competition prep, the MPowered Coaching Collective has a spot for you. Join us and become a better student of your body—because you only get one! 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for new episodes every Saturday. IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

You Own It: Embracing Accountability for Lasting Success

In this week’s episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, host Maddy Michielssen dives into the power of extreme ownership and self-accountability. Building on last week's discussion on how we can unconsciously thrive in dysfunction, Maddy shares personal insights from a recent family trip to Watsonville, CA. She reflects on how shifting from rigid expectations to intentional, realistic actions allowed her to stay aligned with her health goals without compromising joy and presence. Maddy breaks down how you can stop falling into the trap of weekend resets, unrealistic vacation expectations, or struggles with eating out by embracing the mindset of ownership. Through practical tips on setting clear intentions, adapting without guilt, and navigating social situations with grace, she encourages listeners to own their journeys fully—without excuses or victim mentality. This episode is packed with relatable stories, actionable strategies, and empowering takeaways to help you move away from all-or-nothing thinking. Whether you’re prepping for the holidays, family trips, or simply the weekend ahead, you’ll learn how to align your actions with your goals and make consistent progress without sacrificing life’s meaningful moments. Tune in now and get inspired to own your journey—because lasting change starts with accountability. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly episodes, and if this message resonates, check out Maddy’s coaching options linked below! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

Stop making it so hard, girl!

In this episode, MPowered Coaching Collective Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen discusses why we always feel like the journey -- to lose weight, get healthier, feel more confident in our skin, step on stage -- has to be hard and the three areas in which this "obsession" takes root in our lives. Join Maddy as she provides you with actionable tools that you can leverage so that your fixation on the "hard" no longer needs to prevent you from getting to your end goal! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

Meet anxiety, your new superpower!

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen discusses how she leverages her anxiety as her superpower -- for productivity and success and provides you with the tools and explanations as to how you can harness this superpower for yourself! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

Breaking the cycle: Mastering Habits that Stick

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen discusses why we stop doing behaviors (often times the ones that serve us most) and the three things YOU need to be able to identify to make your habits stick. What about the ones that you wish wouldn't, you ask? We cover that too! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

Progress Over Perfection: Breaking Free from the All-or-Nothing Mindset in Health & Fitness

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen & friend Ollie Petrovic attack perfectionism head on - exploring where it comes from, how it can rob us from taking messy action and ultimately finding success, and how we can leverage it productively. Are you finding yourself caught in the trap of self-sabotage due to perfectionistic tendencies? In 60 minutes, we're going to turn that around and have you well on your way to getting out of your own way & finding success IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health Connect with Ollie -- here | Ollie's IG: @balancedcounselingandwellness

The 5 most common pitfalls of goal setting

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen dives into PART THREE of a THREE PART goal setting series, discussing how to avoid setting goals that you cannot follow through with. Join Maddy as she walks you through the five common pitfalls of goal setting. IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

How to set goals you will actually follow through with

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen dives into PART TWO of a THREE PART goal setting series, discussing how to set goals you will ACTUALLY follow through with. Join Maddy as she walks you through the TWO requirements your goals need to meet in order to have meaning and follow-through. IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

The ONLY 2 things you need to accomplish your goals | Cultivating Self-Motivation

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen & LMHC Claudia Mayes discuss hacking your mindset so you no longer have to rely on dopamine or fleeting extrinsic motivation to achieve what you want in life or on your health and fitness journey. Join us as Maddy and Claudia discuss the ONLY two strategies you need to locate your self motivation and bring your A game when you get up after getting knocked down. IG: ⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

You cannot eat intuitively.. yet | Tracking Macros VS Eating Intuitively

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen & Team MPowered athlete: Angela G. discuss their journey with tracking macros and intuitively eating. Join us as Maddy and Angela discuss why they both began tracking macros, why they both stopped, and when they know/how they know it's time to return back to them. Explore how Maddy and Angela have cultivated healthier, sustainable relationships with food by learning how to both -- track macros & eat intuitively. IG: ⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠ | YT: @⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health

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