Michele “MGoodSoGood” Vieux

Michele “MGoodSoGood” Vieux
Co-Interviewed by Invictus Members Amanda Bloom, Katie Hess, and Edith Moreno

The Ladies: Tell us about the first time you met (Invictus owner) CJ, and what did you think? Give us all the weird details. 

Michele: Back in 2007, CJ and I used to do the 6:00 a.m. class together at another gym in town; we were the members and not the coaches. Nick and George were in that class too and there were about six of us regulars, so we all got to know each other pretty well. One day, not too long after I started, the coach of the class just stopped showing up so CJ started coaching us and that’s when it all started. About a month later, he started eating all my leftovers. Two months later, I quit my job to sell him and fifty other people my leftovers. So he basically saved my life from misery behind a desk.

The Ladies: Tell us one of your favorite or most memorable moments in your 1000 years at Invictus?

Michele: So many to choose from! I saw someone’s shorts disintegrate while squatting once. There were literally just threads hanging off the waistband. That was pretty funny.

The Ladies: If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?

Michele: Well, in high school, I took French and we had to pick French names to go by during class and I chose Dominique. It’s both sassy and sexy and can be shortened to a tough name like Dom. I’ve never really thought about changing my name so that’s all I’ve got. But now that I think about it more, Dom is actually pretty fitting since I’ve been called a “socially acceptable dominatrix” on more than one occasion.

The Ladies: If you could invite three people over for an Mmmm Good meal, who would it be? (Besides me, Bloom, and Edith)

Michele: Terry Gross from NPR’s Fresh Air. She’s met pretty much everyone so if I can’t invite everyone, I’ll invite someone who has met them all plus she has a soothing voice and seems really nice. Shel Silverstein – he’s one of the reasons I love to read and I imagine he would speak in semi-sensical poems which would be entertaining. Bob Marley because I’m sure he’d have some interesting things to share or pretty much any artist from the 60’s would also have some good stories and other things to share.

The Ladies: What are your top personal values?

Michele: 1) Loyalty to friends, family and co-workers which sometimes comes at a cost to me but is totally worth it and the right thing to do when it’s all said and done.

2) Keeping my word. If I say I’m going to do it, I will but if I say “maybe” then there’s no guarantee. 🙂

3) Accept people for who they are and do not pass judgment. Everyone comes from a different place, has a unique history and is full of different thoughts and ideas which is what makes this world so exciting. I don’t think it’s fair to project my values on others and I try to appreciate everyone for their variety and quirks – we all have something great to offer this world and we deserve the opportunity to do so without being written off by others for our differences.

The Ladies: What’s a personal fact no one would ever guess about you?

Michele: I like to walk on the left side of people. It used to be a real problem but I’ve got it under control in the past ten years. I still feel uncomfortable on the right but I can manage now without hyperventilating.

The Ladies: Do you have a mantra that you live by?

Michele: Why not?! I hardly ever say no to an interesting offer for spontaneous adventure and I have some awesome stories because of it. “Why not crash that wedding in Costa Rica?” is an example. Sassy Sage B once asked me, “If there were a theme song to play as your walk around, what would it be?” Definitely “The Walker” by Fitz & The Tantrums – “Crazy’s what they think about me. I never stop cause you tell me so. Ninety-nine miles per hour baby. Is how fast that I like to go…”

The Ladies: What was a key or memorable moment in your athletic career?

Michele: I blew out my knee for the 2nd time while playing soccer in England when I was 19. I was there for a study abroad program so there were so many exciting things going on in my life at the time. After my first knee injury, at 17, I was crushed because soccer was everything to me and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to play anymore and that pretty much meant the end of the world. But when it happened the second time, I realized that there is much more to life and that I couldn’t define myself by one thing so I went out looking for different experiences to enjoy.

The Ladies: If you could carry around a living “Polly Pocket” that you can keep in your purse/wallet/shorts pocket and take out whenever you need a quick answer to a question who would “Polly Pocket” be?

Michele: This is easy. Calvin Sun, of course. You might know him as Dr. Evil SunQuad and he knows everything. And if he doesn’t, he does a really good job of making you think he does.