Meet Trailblazer Melanie Samuels

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Samuels.

Melanie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, a city I still consider home. I am one of two kids. My younger brother and I grew up in a very musical household. My father is a clarinetist in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and my mother is a freelance cellist. Both teach music as well. As a toddler, I was under the impression that everyone played a musical instrument, so quite naturally, I started studying violin at age four. From that young age, the arts became a meaningful part of my life. As my childhood interests evolved, I fell in love with film and television and the idea of being a part of that world. It seemed altogether exciting, creative, and glamorous. I soon envisioned my life someday in California. When it came time to consider college, I chose the University of San Francisco, where I graduated with a B.A in Media Studies and a minor in Business. During my time in San Francisco, I was able to test the waters of media production through an internship at a local company. Still, I aimed for more. Two weeks after graduation, I moved to Los Angeles to chase my dream of a career in Hollywood.

Through networking and staying determined, I found work on a television show that summer, eventually working on multiple shows. Being young and hungry, the 12-16 hour workdays were exciting and reassuring that I was on the path to success. Six more years of continued employment with greater responsibility led to more of what I thought was confirmation of a dream becoming fulfilled. However, my gut began telling me something different. Those long hours, along with the uncertainty of a show’s success and future were compromising my physical and mental health, and the time I wished to devote to both. Something just wasn’t right for me. I soon discovered a growing curiosity and interest in not only my own health but in the broader realm of health-related sensibilities. As a teenager, I had struggled with an eating disorder, and I was now realizing that my recovery and transformation from that crisis had been simmering all these years. I had been asking myself questions like: How can food fuel, not harm, us? How do I create balance of home, family and career? Can I thrive in all those areas while maintaining my health goals? Seeking real answers to these questions took me very much outside my comfort zone. Nevertheless, I stepped back from my career in television, which required a tremendous leap of faith in that gut feeling.

I made the decision to enroll in the Nutritional Therapy Association with the goal of becoming a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP). The program was a life-changing experience. Upon graduating, I started my own business, Choose Well with Mel, a nutrition and lifestyle service/brand. My practice is up and running. So far, the majority of my clients are in the entertainment industry. From my experiences in TV production, I understand their unique challenges. It has already been profoundly rewarding work, helping my clients optimize their health, discover that place of balance, and understand priorities in the context of their career goals.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While some parts of this journey have been smooth, there have certainly been speed bumps and roadblocks. Mostly, I faced mental roadblocks. During my NTP studies, I think I suffered from an ongoing struggle with imposter’s syndrome, a feeling of self-doubt and inadequacy in this new field of study. Nutritional health is a vast world of differing opinions, levels of experience, and myriad approaches. However, I’ve learned that comparing myself to others only compromises my ability to succeed. I had to create a dialogue with myself in which I focused on the essence of why I entered this second chapter of my professional life. Another struggle was a feeling of isolation. Entrepreneurship can feel lonely. I had to adjust to a work environment in which there is a lot less daily interaction with others.

My advice to other young women who are considering a career change would be to trust that gut feeling and explore it further. Fortunately, we now live in a time where career change is more common and less stigmatized. Still, many remain in jobs where they are unhappy, unmotivated, complacent, and unsure how to pivot toward change. A support system is vital to making those changes. I am very grateful that my husband, family, and friends were all on board with me through this transition, and thankfully still are! If your support system is not found among your family, find people who are; they are out there! I also reached out to professionals I admired in my field, and as a result, gained some powerful insight through those connections. Additionally, I would encourage those seeking change to not fear learning. Embrace it! During my NTP studies, I had to overcome my fear of revisiting biological science, anatomy, and physiology. But that’s what made it exciting. Last piece of advice? Have patience! Change doesn’t happen overnight. Small stepping stones every day can transform into significant strides.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Choose Well with Mel – what should we know?
As a functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I work one-on-one with clients to address a variety of issues, ranging from autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, weight management, gut health, and as previously said, balancing health and career. My clients include entertainment industry professionals, and much of our focus is on how to prioritize health in the midst of irregular hours and unusually long workdays. I feel I am particularly effective in the ways I can be transparent with my clients, both about their needs and the solutions I think can best work for them. I am honest about the nutritional values I believe in, though I work with each client as an individual. Because of my belief in bio-individuality – the idea that we are all unique beings with distinctive and idiosyncratic characteristics – I am proud of the creative flexibility in my approach. While I have tremendous respect for Western medicine and its community, I also think there is often an unwillingness to regard nutrition as either a supplement to an individual’s care or in some cases, an actual solution to health problems. We are inundated with diet fads, trends, and the latest health news about this and that. It can be difficult to navigate, even overwhelming. I strive to keep an open dialogue about how to sift through the information. Much of my advice, like eating whole, nutrient-dense foods, transcends the constantly shifting news cycle. The food we consume and the considerations of making changes in the way we eat can be sensitive discussions to have. I am proud of the ways I allow my clients to feel they are in a safe space.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Yes! Podcasts in the nutrition/wellness realm that I enjoy keeping up with include Revolution Health Radio, Wise Traditions, House Call With Dr. Hyman, Balanced Bites, The mindbodygreen Podcast, and Healthier Together. I am also a fan of entrepreneurial/women-driven podcasts, like Second Life and Rise Podcast. With all of the driving we do in LA, podcasts become a great use of time!

Books/cookbooks I often refer to include “Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?” by Mark Hyman M.D., “The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook” by Laura Lea Bryant, “Practical Paleo” by Diane Sanfilippo, and “Body Love” by Kelly LeVeque. I love the work these authors are doing! I often recommend these books to clients, as they are wonderful resources.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.choosewellwithmel.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @choosewellwithmel

Image Credit:
Personal photo/Food Photos/Vertical Portrait: Melissa Coulier
Food Prep Photo: Benjamin Steeples

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