Michelle Petties work for WYPR, the NPR news station in Baltimore.  At all other times, Michelle is a writer, speaker, and Food Story coach. She is the author of the award-winning, Amazon bestselling book, Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict. Moreover, Michelle Petties is a woman on a mission to eradicate obesity amongst Black women – one slice of pound cake at a time.

TheCelebrity.Online Magazine has recently interviewed this beautiful lady and below is the Q&A session we had with Ms. Michelle Petties.

Michelle Petties As Cover Feature – TheCelebrity.Online December 2022 Magazine Edition

TheCelebrity.Online: Childhood to adulthood – How was the transition from your childhood into adulthood/teenage and what good and bad things you remember?

Michelle Petties: This is the very question that I answer in the twenty-two chapters of my book, Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict. It’s way more than we have space to unpack here. But I will say I was born in Los Angeles and raised in Marshall, Texas during the desegregating south of the 1960s.  

TheCelebrity.Online: Struggle – What hardships have you faced during your life.

Michelle Petties: I am not special in that respect. I have faced the same hardships and challenges that many people have faced: romance – single and available; career – that elusive glass ceiling kept moving; finances – having more month left at the end of my money. 

I remember the recession of 2008 like it was yesterday. It was devastating and at the same time defining. I am a phoenix who rose from the ashes – Michelle Petties

TheCelebrity.Online: What ‘Expert Advice’ you want to share with the readers about professional and social fields of life?

Michelle Petties: Everyone talks about the importance of now, being present, living in the moment. Don’t be fooled or lose sight of the fact that the decisions you make today will impact the rest of your days. You don’t just wake up one day with diabetes, heart disease or obesity. It’s the cumulative impact of certain choices made over a long period of time. 

TheCelebrity.Online: What makes you different from your competitors in the industry and life?

Michelle Petties: The weight loss business is a 70 billion dollar industry whose growth and success is built on the fact that most people are going to get it wrong. They are going to fail. The industry keeps people’s attention on behavior – eating and exercising. I teach people how to change their beliefs about food, first. When you change your beliefs, your behavior follows. That’s the secret. That’s how I Am Brand New Now is different. But you must be ready for a Brand New way of thinking.

TheCelebrity.Online: Family and affections – Tell us about your family, friends and loved ones?

Michelle Petties: Let’s just say I am loved and leave it at that. 

TheCelebrity.Online: Lesson learnt in life – What are the lessons you learned so far in your life? 

Michelle Petties: Yes, everything costs more than you think it’s going to cost and takes more time than you think it’s going to take. Budget your money and your time accordingly.  

TheCelebrity.Online: What is your biggest achievement that you want to share with our readers? 

Michelle Petties: In my lifetime, I have gained and lost at least 700 pounds. For over forty years I was a stress eater, an emotional overeater, and a yoyo dieter.

I was in a fight for my emotional and physical health – a fight for my life. I battled obesity and won!

Michelle Petties

And, I lost my last sixty pounds over three years ago. They are gone forever! The even bigger achievement was writing a book to show others that if I can do it, they can do it, too.

TheCelebrity.Online: What are the major upcoming events and unforgettable moments or products/services that you would like to share? 

Michelle Petties: I host monthly, online, journaling-for-your-healing workshops via Zoom where I teach high performing, overworked, overwhelmed, overstressed and overweight Black women how to make the mental shifts necessary to lose weight and keep it off for good, so they can experience more pride, power, peace, prosperity, freedom, confidence, and joy in a body that they love. One is coming up. For more details, you can join the mailing list here: https://bit.ly/iambrandnewnow

TheCelebrity.Online: What is your physical profile, sizes and measurements?

Michelle Petties: These days my focus is on being fit, healthy, strong, flexible, and in balance. I must admit it feels fantastic and amazing to go into a store and wear an outfit right off of the mannequin. That’s what size I am. 

TheCelebrity.Online: What are your social media links and contact details?

Michelle Petties: Join my mailing list: https://bit.ly/iambrandnewnow

Follow me on Facebook: https://facebook.com/iambrandnewnow

Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/iambrandnewnow

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/iambrandnewnow

You can get a copy of “Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict” at https://amzn.to/3PRNTBX Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-petties/