Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Hafliger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

The best piece of advice I can give a client is to stop comparing yourself to others. Your journey is your own. Your challenges are your own. Your wins are your own. We all to often watch other people and try to copy their success. But, if we are to be true to ourselves, our health, our bodies, we must keep our focus on the mirror. The only competition you have is the person in the mirror, the person you face everyday, YOU. I remind myself of this too. My challenges are not the same as others. Everyday I move closer and closer to my Best Self.
This is what I offer to others: Be accountable to yourself, Do what challenges you to move toward living Your Best Life

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I struggled with my weight as a child and a young adult. I was always fighting food battles, hating the mirror and limiting my activities due to shame and embarrassment of my size. I always compromised in my life because I never thought I deserved better. I compromised in relationships, jobs, everything.

It wasn’t until I stood up for myself and my health at age 21 that I realized I was made for more. In about 18 months I lost 80 pounds! I left a bad relationship and began my healthy life journey. I became a weight loss coach and loved it. Helping people lose weight, find freedom, and live in peace with themselves is so empowering.

After 20 years as a Weight Watchers coach, in October of 2017, I became an Independent Optavia Health Coach.
As an Optavia coach I work one-to-one with clients, cheering them on and keeping them on track toward their goals. I incorporate personal coaching, community involvement, mindset/skillset education, and nutrition to support each client individually. I help frustrated moms (and dads) who are stuck in their bodies revamp their health so they can live their best life with confidence.

In addition to coaching, I was a public school teacher. However, after 22 years of teaching Language Arts, I decided not to return to the classroom. Now, with the support of my husband and kids, we are putting our faith in God. ​I believe He has greater plans for me, and for our family. I am now jumping head first into my Wellness Coaching business and am ready to cheer others on to find freedom in a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For me, the most powerful strategy for growing clients is to be authentic. Being in the health/wellness industry requires honesty, understanding, and empathy. Living my life out loud and sharing my story as well as the story of other clients helps people realize that we are all in this together. I believe strength comes in numbers and that success breeds success. When we are vulnerable and real, people know we care. My strategy includes being a role model, failing forward, and being a real human.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I think everyday can be a story of resilience. Food issues, body dysmorphia, emotional eating, social cues all create stories of resilience and survival. I mean, we all eat. We all use food as a celebration, reward, comfort, punishment. Food is everywhere and everyday we have the opportunity to respect or disrespect our health. In reality, any time you choose health and wellness it becomes a story of resilience and dedication to living your best life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melissahafliger.com/
• Facebook: Melissa Hafliger
• Other: [email protected]