Today we’d like to introduce you to Melyssa Allen.
Hi, Melyssa; we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
During graduate school, I like to say I “fell” into teaching group fitness classes at the UCF Recreation & Wellness Center! I thought, “Wow – it would be great to get paid to work out!” As soon as I began my training as a group fitness instructor, I realized the kind of positive impact you can make in the lives of the people who come to your classes. As someone who didn’t feel like I “looked” like a group fitness instructor, I had quite a few insecurities to overcome – but I quickly realized that many of the class participants appreciated having me as an instructor not because of how I looked, but how I could help make them feel! At the time, I was studying clinical psychology to become a mental health counselor, but during my clinical training, I discovered the field of lifestyle medicine. It was the perfect marriage of my passions for promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being through health behavior change! Eventually, I transitioned my career path into health and wellness coaching and am now a double board-certified lifestyle medicine professional and health/wellness coach. Throughout my own experience and along with my professional training, I noticed there was an overwhelming amount of information about healthy living that suggested you would need to go to extremes to achieve the outcomes you desired. There was so much toxic messaging within fitness and nutrition. I know I wanted to show people a different, more sustainable approach that didn’t require you to ditch the things in life you enjoy! That’s when I decided to write my book, Healthy Living Doesn’t Have to SUCK, so I could teach people another way to achieve health-promoting habits that last!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve struggled with body image my whole life, and my insecurities only grew throughout my childhood and adolescent experiences, from the time my ballet teacher told me I needed to watch my weight when I was in 6th grade to the time my high school ex-boyfriend told me I was too fat to become a trainer at SeaWorld these life events encouraged my inner “mean girl” voice to hold myself back from opportunities for fear of being seen and judged. Especially as I was writing Healthy Living Doesn’t Have to SUCK, I had many times where I wanted to quit because I didn’t think I was worthy of teaching people about healthy living when I was still struggling to break out of old habits that resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had to coach myself through the self-doubt and negative self-talk that inner mean girl was shouting at me in my mind and continuously focus on taking action to share my message with the world. I know there are people out there who will have their lives positively impacted by reading my book, so I decided not to let that inner voice of fear and self-doubt hold me back!
As you know, we’re big fans of Melyssa with a WHY. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I founded Melyssa with a WHY at first to share my passion for teaching group fitness classes through in-person events and online classes. I wanted to provide fitness experiences that weren’t focused on trying to fight against your body but instead focused on body acceptance and empowering change through your choices. I started noticing many of my class participants sharing how they were struggling with their weight, body image, and other lifestyle behaviors. I knew I could better help them by expanding my skill set to include health and wellness coaching. As a science geek, I always seek out the most research-supported, evidence-based modalities – that’s why I decided to become double board-certified in lifestyle medicine and health/wellness coaching! I wanted to provide high-quality, gold-standard coaching experiences to my clients while infusing my humorous approach into my programs. I decided to share my message with everyone else who was fed up with the fads and wanted to try a new way of creating a healthy lifestyle without restricting or depriving themselves of the things they enjoy! That’s why I am so proud to have published my book, Healthy Living Doesn’t Have to SUCK, and created the podcast to go along with it to make healthier lifestyles more accessible and enjoyable! I also launched a group coaching membership to offer monthly support and accountability for goal setting called the Change Maker Collective.
Are any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Oh, man, ANYTHING by Mel Robbins is my go-to listen or read when I need a boost! Her books, High 5 Habit, and The 5 Second Rule have been game changers for my life and business. I also love my personalized planner that I gift myself yearly for the holidays from Plum Paper to keep myself organized with my to-do list, goal tracker, and weekly planners!
Pricing:
- Paperback Book: $17.77
- Ebook: $7.77
- Membership: $55/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://healthylivingdoesnthavetosuck.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melyssa_with_a_why/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelyssaWithAWHY/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melyssa-allen/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@melyssawithawhy
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healthy-living-doesnt-have-to-suck-the-podcast/id1685555162
Image Credits
Jo Espejo – Branding By Jo
