Special 8-pg Whole30 mini mag!
In 2009, Whole30 program founder Melissa Hartwig Urban found herself at a crossroads in her personal, professional and physical lives. Determined to make positive changes, she started slowly changing her relationship with food, hoping it would make her healthier and happier. Little did she know, those small steps would transform her career and completely change her life— and the lives of millions of others. Here, Melissa’s secrets to joy, purpose and positivity!
Certified sports nutritionist, bestselling author and mother, Melissa Hartwig Urban is best known for her wide smile, empowering energy and her phenomenal success pioneering the life-changing nutritional program Whole30. But her transformative path began in an unlikely place: a drug rehabilitation center. “I had hit a point where I knew I had to make big changes,” she shares with Woman’s World. “Most of all, I wanted to be healthy, physically and emotionally.” That positive change began with Melissa completing her rehab program, then making small, healthy changes to her diet. “At first, I didn’t dive into a totally healthy lifestyle,” she admits. “Instead, I just stopped eating fast food and drinking soda.” But when Melissa noticed she was
sleeping better and feeling more joy, she decided to take the next healthy step by avoiding sugar and artificial sweeteners. Inspired, she slowly removed any grains, dairy, legumes and alcohol from her diet.
After a few months of eating only meat, seafood, eggs, fruit and vegetables, Melissa and her then-husband, Dallas, felt so good that they wanted to share their plan with others…and the Whole30 program was born.
While she felt great, Melissa admits it wasn’t easy. But over the past 10 years, the now 45-year-old has stayed motivated and positive by keeping her goal of living healthy and happy in sight, and giving herself the space to make mistakes. “Changing your life, eating healthy, is a struggle,” she admits with an encouraging smile. “But this is the only body you’ll have— and you’re a worthy cause!” Here, Melissa’s tips for managing stress, staying positive and focusing on a new year of you!