One Woman’s Journey from Heart Surgery to World Champion

Seven years ago Michelle Nazaroff underwent life saving open heart surgery. During her recovery she achieved extraordinary results in her body, mind and spirit. Today, Michelle’s passion is to educate, motivate and inspire others to ‘Get Fit from Within’ and become a living testament of health and vitality.

Michelle was born with aortic stenosis (abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve). Her heart required a new aortic valve desperately when her heart was severely enlarged at age 30. Michelle suffered from breathlessness, fainting, coughing fits and regular chest pains and an accelerated resting heart rate.

Michelle was told by doctors that they would replace her aortic valve with a mechanical version and she would never be able to exercise with any type of intensity again much less start a family. This was devastating news for Michelle as she was three years into a goal of winning a world natural bodybuilding title within 5 years and she was planning on starting a family in the future.

Michelle decided not to give up as she wanted to achieve her ultimate health and fitness dream. So she decided to undergo a radical new surgery called the Ross procedure. This posed more surgical risks but the outcome post-surgery was far better.

Michelle arrived at the hospital in Melbourne with something she had decided was critical for her recovery – a competition photo of her previously winning an Australian Figure title. Michelle wanted this photo to be the first thing she saw when she woke in intensive care, even though everyone around her except her mum was critical of her being able to return to the competition stage.

The surgery was a huge success and Michelle remained in hospital for two weeks following the surgery until she was able to fly home to Perth another two weeks later. Within a few days of arriving home Michelle was back at her local gym doing her physiotherapy stretches and breathing exercises. She wanted to rehab in her own gym as this was a necessary part of her healing for both her body and mind.

During Michelle’s recovery she studied to become a CHEK Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach, Master Personal Trainer, IPAC physique conditioning coach and whole live food nutrition expert. Michelle got back to basics with her nutrition and realised bodies are built on whole live food nutrition and if the internal environment is correct, it will awaken the internal physician within everybody and the body can be revitalised.

After Michelle adopted this high raw lifestyle, her body began to rebuild quickly. She went from not having the strength to open a small bottle of water to 18 months later winning the INBA Olympia World Natural Bodybuilding Figure title, only going 1 month over her original 5 year goal.

In 2007, Michelle founded Nazafit Online Fitness and Nutrition to empower others with the strategies for success that saw her become a champion. Nazafit combines nutrition services with restorative and revitalising exercise for the body. For more information visit the website: www.nazafit.com.au