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It has been said that one should exercise at least 30 - minutes to 60 - minutes of the day. Camille Nimmons aka Coach Cam is ensuring she and others do just that. Coach Cam is up at 4 am, Monday – Friday, engaging and motivating others by 5 am to live healthy and work out. It takes a special person to get up that early and Coach Cam is just that. "Camille creates an encouraging atmosphere for working out and improving the lives of all of her clients," says Kevin, a client for two years. She is fully prepared and woke, Coach Cam gracefully coach clients until 9 pm, only breaking for herself to run/work out and handle business or personal manners. An entrepreneur, being a certified personal trainer is just the beginning for Coach Cam, founder of Be Your Own Cheerleader. We are highlighting woman making a change in their community for Women's History Month. It is a pleasure to interview a woman consciously creating a safe space for healthy living.

Who is Camille N.? I'm just a girl who accidentally fell in love with running, and eventually discovered my true potential in life.

What do you think your true potential is? I guess when I say true potential, I know longer put a cap on what I can and can't do. I've developed this mindset to where I truly believe I can achieve whatever I want in life.

What is BE YOUR OWN CHEERLEADER? Be your own cheerleader is my baby, it's my business that I created from my own personal journey. In the beginning of my training for the Detroit Free Press Marathon I didn't tell anyone what I was doing, not family or friends. I didn't keep this information from loved ones out of fear of their responses, but because I wanted to do this for me. I wanted to see what I was truly capable of and to actually stay consistent with something for once in my life. So those little milestones I accomplished completing my first miles, completing my first 13.1 miles no one knew, no one cheered me on, but I continued to push and became my own cheerleader.

Why did you want to run the Detroit Free Press Marathon? My decision to run the Detroit Free Press Marathon was extremely random. I attended this vision board party back in 2018, and like everyone else I just cut and pasted random things on my board. I remember looking at a magazine and seeing this article about a girl who loved to run, so I just decided to add that onto my board. Fast Forward to the month of May and naturally I didn't achieve one thing on that vision board. Looking at my board in disgust I saw the article about the girl who loved to run, and I said I will run a marathon. I googled the closest marathon, and the Free Press was the first thing that came up. I had no idea that decision would change my entire life.

Why did you choose this business? Things just fell into play for me, after I ran the Marathon, I started incorporating the gym into my routine. I eventually started posting my workouts, and clients honestly just came to me. I would've never thought of myself as a trainer or someone who could influence others, but God had much higher expectations for me.

How did you get started? I got started not too long after the Detroit Free Press Marathon. I was training all over the metro Detroit area, at different gyms and client's homes everywhere.

What does your business offer? I offer mini classes Monday- Friday, with a wide variety of time slots. My morning sessions are from 5am-10am and my evening classes go from 4p-9pm.

When did you realize that need in service? I guess I discovered it when people just constantly kept asking me about training.

How are you influencing others? I not only want my clients to develop healthy habits and achieve their fitness goals, but I want them to see that anything in life is possible. Fitness taught me structure, discipline, and consistency, three areas I used to lack in. Once I started my fitness journey, I discovered who I was and what I really want out of life, and I just want my clients to feel the same. I want them to take that same energy in the gym and use it towards every situation in life, and not to put limitations on what they can or cannot do. Life is too short and beautiful to not live it the way you want.

Where do you see your business going or expanding? I'm not going to go into details on everything I plan on doing, but my next move will definitely be opening a space of my own.

What else do you want people to know about you? I want people to know I was not always this confident, that I wasn't always so positive and happy and that running changed my life completely. I'm truly appreciative of every client and so thankful for where this journey has taken me.

The feeling is reciprocated as well. Coach Cam community of like-minded individuals have become family. Her B.Y.O.C family brags different. "She has changed my life in more ways than one," says client and single mother K'Lynn. "Camille is a trainer that is patient, encouraging and concerned," says LaJimmease, a client of only three months. It evident in the way Coach Cam clients speak that she is making an impact and change in her community. The benefit of regular exercise is beyond weight loss, it prevents diseases and emotional wellness because feel-good chemicals are released during and after physical activity. Know your risk factors and be proactive with your health. Be Your Own Cheerleader