B.A. Speech Communication
M.A Human Development
National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer (NASM-CPT)
Certified Holistic Nutrition Coach
Half-Marathon, General Races,
I have resided in South Minneapolis for pretty much my entire life. I truly love my city and the people who live here!
In 2009 I receive my masters degree in Human Development. It's an awesome degree. I took courses in human development and health and wellness coaching. During this time, it became very apparent that my calling in life is in health and wellness.
In my spare time I enjoy reading on topics of self discovery, recovery, new fitness research, creating whole food recipes and other wellness topics. Since I love health and wellness so much, I thought to myself, why am I not doing this as a career? It has been placed on my heart to help others in this capacity, so I am going after my dream!!! I have taken course work at Saint Paul College in their Personal Training program and have received my NASM-CPT (National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer) and I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach.
Health and Wellness to me is about feeling great in your skin and embracing each moment of the day with a vibrant awareness and happiness for life. Fitness is about feeling strong on the inside and out and when you are strong physically, that can transcend into other areas of your life.
Yet it took me a long time to discover this. For as long as I can remember, I've had a skewed outlook on food, the number on the scale, my body, perfectionism, and self esteem. I can still remember wanting McDonald's, Taco Bell (pick your poison) day in and day out, as well as sugar treats like candy and ice cream. I have learned that fast food is NOT food. It's processed junk that messes with our hormones and quality of life.
At around age 16 I got really obsessed with body image and pushed myself into disordered eating. I struggled with this for over 10 years before getting help. During this time, I went through many ups and downs with my moods, weight, and low self esteem. I was suffering. I isolated myself from family and friends. I was spiritually bankrupt.
A miracle happened a few years ago when I discovered a 12 step group called Overeaters Anonymous (OA). I always thought OA was for morbidly obese individuals so I never thought of it as an option for me. I learned of OA through a lady at my gym. She said she doesn't eat Cheetos because it's a compulsion food for her and that she abstains from eating it. Initially I didn't know what abstaining from particular foods really meant. I thought it sounded like deprivation. I've learned throughout my health and wellness research that you should allow yourself a little treat every now and then or else you set yourself up for binging. However this is not the case for a food addict.
For me, eating sugar, pizza, chips, and other compulsion foods effects my brain chemistry, my body, and my spiritual connection with others. It's like telling a sober alcoholic to have just one beer, it surely won't hurt them, but the truth is, alcohol effects them differently than a normal person who's not an alcoholic.
The road of recovery hasn't been an easy journey by no means, but recovery is definitely more blissful than living in isolation and the obsession with weight and the scale. I am truly blessed to have this program. I hope my message reaches other women and men who may suffer in this area which is why I am open about sharing my story.
I truly believe fitness and living a healthy lifestyle has the ability to make everyone feel strong and confident. It is my goal to show people that this type of lifestyle can transcend into other areas of their life. It just needs to be discovered and realized.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at melissalee612@yahoo.com
Be well....
Melissa
