My passion for being a health coach stems from my love of people. Nothing is more rewarding to me than helping people reach their full potential. When I'm able to assist people in making smart decisions with their health, everything else seems to fall in place for them. Their relationships improve, their job productivity improves, and their overall sense of self-worth is increased. I'm happy to say that multiple clients of mine have lost over 70 lbs, and kept it off.

There is no magic pill for these life changing results. It's about leading a clean life nutritionally, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Holistic healing is about treating the whole body. Not just the knee pain, or belly fat. It's about getting to the root of the issue and digging up the weeds or old habits and replacing them with new, clean habits.

2) How important is your nutrition to you being someone in the public eye? Do you have any tips for someone looking to start and maintain a beneficial health and wellness routine?

I live, eat, and breathe what I preach - which is why my job doesn't feel like work. I don't consider this lifestyle to be a chore or hard work. It's the best way of living and the energy you put off while living at a higher vibrancy is contagious. Strangers have stopped me to ask, "Where do you work out, what diet do you suggest, what makeup are you wearing, are you a fitness competitor?" The best tip I can share in return is that it's mostly my diet, that I try to eat only organic, plant-based foods. There's a little more to it than that, but our diet is the game changer.

A challenge I've experienced is trying to help people who aren't ready to make the changes. This can be exhausting and a waste of valuable time. To avoid this dilemma, I have my clients follow through on some homework assignments and have them answer questions after watching or listening to documentaries that apply to them. If they don't follow through on this, then I know getting healthy is not truly a priority yet. I also avoid debates. I'm not trying to convert people out of habits they're not ready to let go of. This lifestyle of clean living is not an overnight process. This is why giving individual attention has the most lasting results.

4) What is your life motto?

I have a few sayings that resonate deeply with me. 

▫️You are what you eat.

▫️You are what you think.

▫️Where focus goes, energy flows.

▫️Happiness comes from giving and growing.

▫️Don't try to recreate the wheel. Look for who has figured it out and ask them for advice.

5) Do you have a favorite go-to healthy snack?

My go-to snack for when I'm on-the-go is a superfood smoothie consisting of any variation of cacao, banana, almond butter, and spirulina. This keeps me full and energized. I also love avocados, cucumbers, dates, and red grapefruit. All the original fast foods.

A typical day in my life would involve waking up around 7 AM. I'll start my morning with some light stretches while oil pulling with coconut oil and a drop of dōTERRA peppermint. Then I'll try to chug about 32 ounces of alkaline water.

I'll pack a few superfood smoothies for the road. Usually 3 or 4 32 ounce glass mason jars. I switch up the ingredients to keep me full and satisfied. 

I'm out of the house by 8:30 to meet up with clients or share in some volunteer work I enjoy doing. By 4:30 I'm usually making something light and easy for dinner. We almost always have visitors stopping by the house around this time. I think they follow their nose.

Before sunset my husband and I like to do a beach walk, which is conveniently right at the end of our street. We take this time to reconnect and talk about our day.

7) Are you a goal setter? If so, has it helped you in

your career or in any other areas of your life and do

you find it important to have goals?

Having goals is crucial. How are you going to get anywhere if you don't know the destination? Once you reach those goals there's a sense of satisfaction and a need to create new ones. Setting goals is crucial for my clients and myself.

8) Do you have a favorite exercise routine? 

For working out, I put everyone on a different program. What works for me isn't necessarily right for someone else. I personally like CrossFit and I push myself as hard as possible, while being careful not to get injured. Other people may thrive on pilates or yoga. Lifting weights is something I encourage all of my clients to strive for. It's just so important in keeping the whole skeletal system strong and supported. It also helps with strengthening bone density. This is especially important for female clients.

9) In three words describe your mission in life?

Three words: Positive mental attitude.

10) Where can we connect with you and what is a project that you are currently working on that we should keep an eye out for?

Clients typically reach out to me through referrals, my website, or my Instagram. Some choose to work with me remotely through online coaching. Others fly out for up to two weeks of a full immersion detox retreat. I am grateful to be able to reach so many people through social media. Hearing positive feedback on a daily basis is the best part of my job.

YouTube: Hansonskitchen

Instagram: melissa_hanson

Website: https://www.melissahanson.com/