Melissa R.

Melissa first started working with Sandra almost two years ago through Sandra’s Simple Macros Challenge with one goal in mind: lose weight. But for Melissa, losing weight was about much more than a number on the scale.

“The one goal of losing weight stuck in my mind, but there was also something more to it. I needed it for health because of the joint pain and inflammation in my body. That’s why it had to become a lifestyle change, not just losing some weight and working out.”

She started her change with one-on-one nutrition coaching and worked with Sandra for about a year. Since then, she has continued applying what she learned about nutrition, strength training, and creating habits that actually fit her lifestyle. A few months later, she also joined Amanda’s Clean30 kickstart, which helped her reduce her sugar and processed food intake even more.

“Clean30 helped my health even more.”

Her most recent wins:

✔ 3 running PRs

✔ 4 weightlifting PRs

✔ Gained 1.3 lbs of muscle

✔ Lost 2.3% body fat

The biggest lesson Melissa has learned is: There is no quick fix.

“What has worked for me is finding sustainable, realistic  and simple habits. I focus on working smarter, not harder, and being patient with the process. Progress doesn’t happen overnight, and I’ve learned that nutrition and training aren’t one-size-fits-all. You have to figure out what works for your own body and lifestyle.”

For Melissa, nutrition is not about extremes. She still tracks macros, but mostly to make sure she is eating enough to support her training and recovery. She prioritizes simple foods that are easy to keep on hand so she can stay consistent, even during busy weeks. She has also learned how to make smarter choices without feeling restricted. Whether it is choosing Thai food over a greasy burger, balancing sushi with vegetables and lean protein, or keeping junk food out of the house, her focus is on consistency instead of perfection.

“When cravings hit, I pause and ask myself if there’s a better option that would still satisfy it. Sometimes there is, sometimes there isn’t, both are okay.”

On the training side, Melissa focused on 3-4 strength-based training days each week while using her half marathon and 10K training as cardio.

“It was all intentional, but I never thought I was actually making a difference since the scale wasn’t really moving. But that is exactly the point. Progress is not always about the number on the scale.”

Melissa has built muscle, lowered body fat, improved her strength, and hit multiple PRs because she stayed patient and trusted the process. She also credits the different offerings at the gym for helping her continue making progress.

“All the offerings at the gym are great. If someone is strategic about taking advantage of all the gym’s programs throughout the year, they can really see amazing results. And none of it would be possible without all the amazing coaches. I couldn’t have asked for a better gym to end up at.”

And she is not done yet. Melissa plans to continue this same approach through her next half marathon at the end of June while also shifting some focus toward improving her gymnastics skills.