Making a Living While Training to Become a Pro Bodybuilder

How to Make a Living While Still Training to Become a Pro Bodybuilder

I’ve taken on so many roles in my life when it comes to making a living and now when it comes to training 2-3 times a day, spend several hours meal prepping, recovering and so forth, this by far has become the most difficult career path I’ve ever chosen to take.

Yes, there is no money to be a competitor and in reality you only get paid in some circumstances when you place in a Pro show like the Arnold Shows but how do you earn a living before you find the sponsors?  

How do you train and take the extensive time that is needed and still make enough money at he end of the month to pay your bills and maybe even set some money aside?

I’ve tried, Journalism, Broadcaster, Surfset Trainer even a Hypnotist Assistant at a show at Hooters before I started training as a Bodybuilder.  But what I found that I feel worked very well when it came to finding sponsors is when my husband and I created the World Center of Broadcast Media in Las Vegas and started live streaming the Michelle Davis Fitness TV Show.  This is what branding me apart from all the rest of the competitors and I worked with over 200 companies filming and providing testimonials while promoting this on my TV Show and Social Media.  This build my following and caused a "Buzz" in the Fitness and Health Industry for me to have a more open approach to finding in which area of Fitness I would be best in advertising for.  Interesting enough I found that "Green" Beauty Companies with Skincare, Makeup and Tanning really liked my Fitness lifestyle and were happy to work with me.  Clothing companies, TONS of food, drink and protein powder companies came my way and it was quite easy to send them my media guide and work with them also.

 Working with companies filled me in on building a lucrative PR and Advertising Media List where having things like Giveaways or Prizes to my Social Media fans also helped me build traction in earning a living.  But it wasn't until I started winning Overall I my NPC Shows that companies started to want to pay me to endorse their companies and products.  Giving professional testimonials, becoming a Brand Ambassador in some instances but overall just making relationships the PR and HR connections, made me learn a lot about business and helped me find the companies who pay me and who do trust in me and I trust them also.

Second,  modeling and video shoots to promote on your social media to advertise your body can enhance your marketing skills and essentially gain you a following that can definitely help you gain publicity.  I decided to come out with my own Fitness Products so I could create content for MDFit and create a home base for my Michelle Davis Fitness Support Group.  Having products and tangible things to give allow people to buy who look up to me makes me so confident that this is the career path that I truly have so much passion for.

Also Life Coaching or Personal Training is a way to make an income while training as a Bodybuilder and yes SO MANY competitors become this but there’s also all the extra facets where you can make money.  Ive seen Bodybuilders take on career paths such as Photography, Wed Designing, Videography, Broadcasting, Journalism, Makeup, Tanning, Hair, Posing Coach, Meal Prep Chef, Nutritionist, Competition Assistant ect.  There are plenty of ways to make a career as a Bodybuilder and be financially successful at it also.

But, I will say mentally you have to be a little crazy to be in this industry to be a champion and that’s my journey to find out combining my lifestyle training and becoming a Pro Bodybuilder but also being a Independent Contractor and making living in the Fitness Industry.