Who are you and what do you do?
I am Dr. FIonnula McHale. I am a medical doctor specialising in proactive health using the tools of functional medicine, nutrition and exercise. I work with a wide variety of clientele including high profile executive clients helping them achieve optimal health and maximise performance in work, professional athletes as well as those attending the gym on a regular basis assisting them in getting the most out of their efforts especially from a body composition point of view.
My approach is unique. I use advanced diagnostic testing to establish underlying causes rather than simply diagnosing people and prescribing a medication based on generic recommendations. The same applies to diets and training programs.
What brought your brand about? How and why did it start?
In terms of my social media presence, I began by simply posting snippets of what my life entailed. Some training videos, food/cooking and of course my travels all over the world lecturing, seeing high profile clients abroad and travelling with professional athletes. It started purely to keep up with my friends on Facebook but I soon realized I could used Instagram in particular to reach out to a much wider audience. When I first started posting, only about a handful of people would have even know what functional medicine was. Few would have even heard of a protein bar….how times have changed!!
Describe your audience! Who is your target?
The target market for my business doesn't come from social media. For the large part, my regular clients are high profile executives internationally who arent on Instagram although I get referrals from personal trainers who are on Instagram and coach the clients that come to see me. This is definitely changing however, as my service becomes more affordable.
Instagram doesn't actually make me any money. I just use it to help educate people and again it does allow me to get my message out to so many people. Especially when there is such garbage out there.
What’s your media diet?
I only really use Instagram at the moment. It can take me up to an hour to write posts so I don’t have time to be on them all. I quite like the live feature on Instagram too, though the posts there are more personal and less informative obviously!
Name three people you respect in the industry
I make a point of surrounding myself with people I respect and admire. So the person I hold the utmost respect for is my partner Vinny Gough. Having been in the industry for over ten years and having travelled to learn from all the top educators in the industry, he holds a wealth of knowledge in training. At present, I wouldn’t trust anyone else to coach me (and I have had numerous coaches over the course of my life having competed in swimming, powerfliting, physique, fitness etc). He is what I could class as a COACH.
It’s a shame to see the personal training industry at the moment where most of them are ‘rep counters’ rather than actual skilled coaches. As far as I’m away most people can count from 1-10 without having to pay €100/hour for that luxury!
Nick Mitchell of Ultimate Performance and Ben Pakulski, IFBB Pro would also be two individuals I really respect in the industry. Nick Mitchell for having built a global business out of personal training which for years seemed impossible to do. Ben Pakulski for being the most intelligent bodybuilder out there, his programs are like magic on a page. Just beautiful.
Proudest post? Finest moment to date?
I guess the post that I felt really resonated with so many people was one that related to not accepting anything less than your best. Not accepting that your energy levels are poor. Not accepting that you just have “IBS” so you better just live with it. Not accepting that your body isnt responding to diet and training. Anything less than 100% for you, should not be acceptable. There is always always a way to optimize!!
What is your attitude to well-being, mentally and physically?
Both go hand in hand. Well-being and health is my number one priority in life. Always. Nothing is more important than that.
How has your life changed since you started your brand?
I do feel a huge sense of achievement in that I think my posts have contributed to the more widespread knowledge of what functional medicine is and how it can be used to help so many people. It is also so very rewarding to hear from so many women these days that I inspired their journey. I think the face that I have always maintained a relatively aesthetic physique but prioritise performance as a mindset definitely motivates and inspired more people than just focusing on what the mirror shows day in day out.
Whats your favourite and least favourite thing about fitness and fitness trends on social media?
Favourite: There is so much motivation now for all of us. We see incredible transfomrations and acheivements in fitness and aesthetics, that it is incredible motivating.
Least favourite: Misconceptions around supplements especially fat burners and anabolic steroids. This can be very misleading for the public. People think they can do a 12 week prep and look like Paige Hathaway but the reality is that most people have been training their whole lives. If they haven’t, they’ve probably used some sort of ergogenic aid to get ‘stage ready’.
Tell us a secret - something we should know about you?
I’m obsessed with free leaf teas! Every time I travel abroad I look for diffeent blends.
What’s the one thing you want people to learn from your work?
That you should never settle for less than your best. If you want to achieve something, you can do it. But you need to have a well designed strategy to do so. There is no point saying you want to compete in a bikni competition in 12 weeks if you only started training a year ago. Put in the hard graft and get a good coach and reach a mutual decision on what is the best time frame.
Where do we find you?
My website and Instagram!
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