Melissa Mckenzie
Coach
Melissa is a working mom of three boys and understands the challenges that come with investing in one’s own personal mental and physical fitness while managing the demands of work, home, and children. She is a former varsity rower who lost her athletic identity and literally wore the heavy weight of an unsatisfying career and the chaos of raising small children while trying to keep it all together. She hired Michelle MacDonald of Tulum Strength Club, learned about the effectiveness and flexibility of macro-based nutrition, purposefully drilled away at her mindset, competed in her first fitness show, and became an avid lifter. She now uses this lifestyle as her therapy, benefitting herself and her family. She is a firm believer that what is learned and achieved through lifting and nourishing the body spills over into other areas of life, culminating in a richer, less anxiety-filled, and more empowered existence. She is invested in helping other women to develop, feed, and tap into their warrior mindset, to push through barriers and fears, and to achieve what they dream for themselves, too.
Certifications
and Achievements
- ISSA, International Sports Sciences Association, Certified Personal Trainer
- BSM, Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Management, Brock University
- 3x medalist, Head of the Charles Regatta
- 1x medalist, Royal Canadian Henley Masters Regatta
- 2018 Serious About Fitness competitor (2nd place)
Melissa’s Words of Wisdom
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says “I’m possible.”
What Melissa’s Client’s Are Saying
I’ve been working with Melissa for almost 3 months now, and I am amazed at the results I have achieved so far! I applied to TWW at the end of 2020 after weighing in at my highest weight ever—even more than when I was pregnant with each of my 4 children. I wasn’t exercising consistently, I was tired and unhappy with how I was feeling about myself, my physical abilities and appearance, the stress from work and family and my own lack of motivation and accountability. I knew when I had my interview with Melissa, I was in the right place with exactly the right coach for my transformation! Melissa is available, attentive, knowledgeable and encouraging—she keeps me accountable to my plan! She has designed a customized strength, cardiovascular training and macro based nutrition plan that is centered around my individualized goals. I look forward to our weekly coaching calls, and the camaraderie of the TWW community. Melissa and the TWW program renewed my belief in myself and my ability to change my body and mind as a 58 year old with big plans for my best years to come! I finally feel that I am returning home to myself. Thank you, Melissa!
-Lisa Hamilton
Melissa took a chance on me when I had given up on my ability to make changes on my own. As a 45-year old mother of 5, not only had I lost confidence in myself and gained a lot of weight, but my mind-set was in a desperate need of repair. My coaching calls with Melissa have been instrumental in re-learning how to talk to myself, holding myself accountable, and changing my patterns of behavior. Melissa is exactly who you want in your corner as you break through your personal barriers. She is an incredible mentor and a teacher. She is so knowledgeable, a great listener and she does the work right alongside you. Melissa carries me on the hard days and she is my biggest cheerleader. I have every confidence that she is leading me to a lifetime of success. Her coaching has carried over into every part of my life. I am becoming successful at everything I do. My journey with Melissa has just begun and I plan on continuing a lifetime of healthy habits as I follow in her footsteps. When Melissa calls me “champ”, I believe her.
-Erin 45 years old
I had no idea how to go about a transformation but when I read the profiles of each coach, I knew this woman would lead my journey in a way that would honor my first job as a mom of many, hear my cry for help and pepper the journey with enough “get after it” to not crush my spirit. I was right. She is always next to me, every day, helping me navigate this foreign world. I have created sustainable systems, that provide amazing results that I know will carry me over the years as I work to create my best version of me. Stay tuned. There is no one on earth that has got me giddy to get out of bed to weigh and measure myself, but this bad ass, love of a coach. I am indebted to her guidance. She helped me find hope at 55.
-Catherine Dennis, 55
I had always identified as an athlete, but years of putting myself last had taken its toll. In February 2021, at the age of 45, I decided that it was time to make myself a priority and reached out to Coach Melissa and The Wonder Women.
Immediately, Melissa’s expertise and enthusiastic attitude helped me to become more confident in the gym as well as in the kitchen. She truly cared and was invested in my efforts to improve my health and mindset. Together, we built up daily habits and the discipline necessary to attain the goals we had set. Melissa taught me to enjoy the process and understand that my potential to achieve is limitless!
I am so pleased with the progress I have made and now know that I CAN do it!
I have no doubt that Coach Melissa is using her gifts to make the world a better place, and I will forever be indebted to her, as she helped me get my life back!
Jill Walker – @jilldub34
It is a both a privilege and honour to be able to write a testimonial for Coach Melissa. When I hired Coach Melissa I was not expecting to see changes so quickly. I’ve been working out for years with trainers and basically have just stayed the same (neither fit nor fat) I resigned myself to thinking this is as good as it gets. Carbs were the enemy or so I was told. For years I survived on salad and chicken which clearly did not serve me as now I am eating carbs and instead of gaining weight I’m losing weight and building muscle! Today, at 50 years of age my whole perspective and confidence has come full circle. I can literally go down the list and check off “yes” to all the benefits that can come with a proper diet and consistent work out plan. Body strength, stamina, endurance, self-image… the list goes on. We ought to demand the best from ourselves and our personal trainers and Coach Melissa is the best! She is professional, knowledgeable and passionate- it’s her “you can do it” attitude that makes you want to strive and come back for more. Caring, supportive, encouraging, a great sense of humour, Coach Melissa will push you to your limit and you will love it. I truly believe that hiring Melissa has been my best investment in 2021! Thank you for being different from all of my past Trainers! You are simply the best!
-Denise Campbell @denisemariecampbell5
