When you're the former President of the United States, adding in physical fitness could be considered a major challenge in your daily life. Not for Cornell McClellan, he takes on this challenge with a smile. Fitness Consultant and Personal Trainer to the Obamas, Cornell McClellan has been secretly training the former First Family for 10+ years through his various intense training methods in the state of Illinois.
Owning a gym in the West Loop of Chicago is where McClellan first met with the family. After being there for over 20+ years, Michelle Obama was first recommended to the facility after the gym's opening then her husband joined a couple years later to trim his physique. The main difference now is the Obamas have more free time to be active. Like a lot of free time! Apparently, Michelle loves to participate in SoulCycle (a 45-minute indoor cycling class that features high-intensity cardio, muscle-sculpting strength training, and rhythm-based choreography). In a recent interview with People magazine, McClellan explained some of their weekly workouts.
As you can see the results have definitely been paying off. But Personal Training the Obamas didn't start out of nowhere, before McClellan was a karate student for several years and became an instructor. While coaching youth sports at the time, McClellan discovered his passion for the combination of mental fortitude from martial arts and physical ability in exercising. This led him to the sport of Weightlifting. Being apart of the fitness journeys for over several weight lifting professionals led them to win titles for the Illinois Cup, Mr. Illinois, Mr. USA, Mr. America and Mr. Universe. McClellan using his extensive knowledge of the Human Anatomy & Physiology by expanding himself into various forms of physical fitness set the stage for him to indulge in Personal Training for a variety of individuals.
A Chicago training and wellness facility, Naturally Fit, was born soon after. McClellan's goal of illustrating how fitness can be achieved through a holistic approach that enhances the mind, strengthens the body, and nurtures the spirit; he encourages achieving the proper balance in pursuit of a totally fit lifestyle. Serving on the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition has given McClellan the platform to be able to succeed in improving the daily livelihood for others.
Notice here McClellan works with Michelle Obama to launch her #GimmeFive fitness campaign aimed to think of five ways you can be healthy, diet-wise or fitness-wise, and share them via social media. His constant pursuit of fitness knowledge and eagerness to develop safe and effective workouts aimed at increasing all aspects of health is what makes him the perfect secret trainer for Michelle & Barack Obama.