Frequently asked questions

What if I don’t want to go 100% plant-based?

Short answer: It’s not required for you to go 100% plant-based in the Second Youth Wellness Method or in private coaching..

Longer answer: Research suggests that the more whole food plant-based a person leans, the more benefits they’ll likely experience. The Second Youth Wellness Method and private coaching are a ‘No-Judgement Zone.’ Embrace as much or as little plant-based foods in your diet as you want. The course gradually introduces plant-based foods so it is not a 360-degree immediate change. Similarly, private coaching helps you incorporate more plant foods gradually, for what works in your life.

What is a health coach?

Many people are familiar with a fitness trainer or sports team coach. A health coach serves a similar role, but with their focus, as the name implies, being on health. A health coach is trained to personally attend to the health needs of his/her clients, guiding them toward optimal wellness using their knowledge of nutrition and wellness practices. Overall health is not just about nutrition. It also includes proper sleep, stress management, exercise, mental wellness and purposeful living such as having a community to support them. In the whole food plant-based space, these are referred to as the 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. Many physicians have left traditional Western medicine practice for a Lifestyle Medicine model where they address these 6 Pillars with their patients and often refer out to a health coach as a team approach so the patient can get the necessary time dedicated to them for getting healthy. Melissa often receives referrals from doctors who practice nephrology, and family or internal medicine. Doctors do this because they prescribe “food as medicine” for their patients to get well, and they know Melissa’s strategies and methodologies on the whole food plant-based diet are effective.

*It is always recommended to keep your doctor informed when shifting towards a plant-based diet, as any medications being taken may need to be adjusted accordingly as the diet becomes more reliant on plant-based nutrition.

What is the difference between ‘vegan’ and whole food plant-based?’

A vegan diet pattern includes no animal flesh (including fish), however, it may include products made by animals such as milk, eggs and cheese. Many vegans consume highly processed vegan or plant-based manufactured products, and also omit any lifestyle products made of animals such as leather, fur or feathers. A whole food plant-based diet includes no animal foods or foods made by animals (ie: milk, eggs, cheese, honey), with the focus being on the nourishing qualities of plant-based foods. These include food in its most original, natural state as possible (ie: the whole grain vs. a highly processed flour or manufactured packaged product like vegan mac-n-cheeze).

Regarding the course, how many hours should I schedule per week in order to get awesome results?

The Second Youth Wellness Method is a self-paced course, meaning you can invest as many or as few hours each week as your schedule allows. A good rule of thumb would be 1-2 hours per week dedicated to watching the lessons and another 2-3 hours putting them into action.

You have lifetime access to the Second Youth Wellness Method, which means you get to go at your own pace! :)

Is this for beginners? What if I’ve tried to go plant-based before?

Like a strong, solid foundation of a house, creating a strong, consistent, nutritionally-dense eating pattern for your health & well-being will enable you do life strongly, even far into the future. Learn how to make wise, informed, and confident decisions with the info & support in the Second Youth Wellness Method & private coaching as you build your health-promoting lifestyle that extend in to the months and years to come. Everything you learn in the course will lay out how to confidently choose, order, make and look for health-promoting foods and shift towards normalizing your healthy food choices so that it’s easier and easier to do and more enjoyable to live out.

This course and coaching are perfect for you whether you’re just getting started in your plant-based journey, or if you’ve tried it before and just need a boost or support to help you navigate it in your unique life.

Even if you’ve been at it for a while and are still confused about how to do it right, what right next steps you need, or if you just want to understand how to do it for your unique life more seamlessly, Melissa will help you take steps to reach improved health while keeping the process easy-to-implement and enjoyment high.

I really want to dive in - but I’m afraid I’ll get overwhelmed and lose focus.

Let’s talk about “overwhelm” for a second.

Overwhelm happens when you try something new…when you don’t know how to do it, or how hard it will be, or what that might mean for your time and energy. (Because you’re trying to shift what you eat, after all.)

What’s the best cure to overwhelm? 1. An actionable, easy to follow, proven plan to guide to; 2. Just get started; 3. Get the support you want & need.

Melissa created Second Youth Wellness Method and a private coaching method that are the antithesis of overwhelm for your plant-forward journey.

You’re not going to do “all the things, all at once.”

The Second Youth Wellness Method course was created to help you build a health-promoting lifestyle with simplified processes, to provide you guidance for your unique life through coaching, to avoid overwhelm (you have a plan!), save time and money (stop spinning wheels!), and fire on all cylinders while you shift your foods to support your health. You’re going to follow the detailed, step-by-step implementation lessons, pile up the wins, and leverage the tools and strategies that work. 

Will I have to fast and will I be hungry?

The Second Youth Wellness Method does not include intermittent fasting as part of its protocol, and does not require counting calories, points or amounts of whole foods consumed as long as they are in the “green light” food category (which is explained in the course itself). That said, the course focuses on nutritionally dense foods that are high in fiber and can be eaten in abundance. As anyone, when following a whole food plant-based diet, you may get hungry, and can satisfy that hunger guilt-free with nutritionally dense foods. Private coaching follows the same methodology, and the topic of intermittent fasting is an option to investigate together.

What if my family doesn’t want to eat plant-based. What can I do?

The Second Youth Wellness Method has a dedicated module for planning for obstacles such as family and friends who do not follow the same eating pattern. Many strategies, tips and tricks are shared to help navigate this social dynamic. That said, a whole food plant-based diet is healthy and delicious for anyone, and any age, to enjoy. With the Second Youth Wellness Method, you will be equipped and empowered to confidently honor your health with whole plant foods even among omnivores.

Private coaching is all about helping you navigate friend and family dynamics - so you can eat confidently regarding both food choice and social aspects.

Is eating plant-based expensive?

Packaged and manufactured plant-based products are convenient but pricier than plant foods themselves. The Second Youth Wellness Method teaches how to purchase manufactured products wisely and how to make meals at home using inexpensive produce, whole grains and other natural food ingredients. When selecting meals at restaurants, most of the time, plant-based options are less expensive than meat focused meals.

Private coaching also addresses navigating shopping and navigating budget.

Will the food taste good?

There is no lack of flavor in plant-based foods if it’s seasoned well, just like any omnivorous meal. The Second Youth Wellness Method offers many seasoning strategies that are supportive of optimal health, offering information on how to read food labels, and what ingredients to look out for that can hurt human health.

Private coaching can also address food preparation, seasoning, shopping and more.

Is the food easy to make?

The Second Youth Wellness Method includes recipes that are indeed easy and quick to make. Many women are busy and time-stetched, and if this is a new style of cooking, may also be intimidated by “fancy” vegan ingredients. There may be new-to-you ingredients that are introduced in the course, however, they are usually common and readily available in standard grocery stores, or a quick purchase through Amazon.com. The methods used in the course are also simple and straight forward, with just basic cooking skills needed.

Private coaching addresses food preparation and purchasing that works within your interest or skill level.

I don’t want to be flabby skinny or too thin. Will that be the way it is?

The focus of the Second Youth Wellness Method and private coaching is nourishing the body well. Often times, weight loss occurs as a “side effect” of eating whole food plant-based, with multiple other physical benefits being experienced such as improved sleep, more energy, better breathing, heartburn relief, bloating relief, constipation relief, and glowing skin and hair. Medical benefits of women who eat a whole food plant-based diet include weight loss, lowered blood pressure, lowered blood sugar, lowered cholesterol, improved arthritis, improved circulation, improved attitude (no depression) among many others. Regular strength or resistance training is always suggested to maintain (or gain) healthy muscle mass and improve bone density, especially for midlife women.

I’m worried about getting enough protein. Will I get what my body needs?

Plants have protein and those living 100% plant-based do get enough protein to thrive. T. Colin Campbell’s famous The China Study gives much discussion and explanation on the differences of animal-based and plant-based protein and the deleterious effects of large amounts of animal protein may have one human health, as evidenced in his own research. Marketing culture has done a great job making us believe we need more protein than we really do, and the kind of protein makes a significant difference on how the body processes it and how it manifests in the body. The Second Youth Wellness Method goes into more detail about plant protein. Private coaching is a great place to discuss needs in detail.

I’m athletic. Will I need anything extra to keep my gym activity strong?

A whole food plant-based diet is exceptionally effective for active people, often raising eyebrows at how effective it really is. Here are some expected benefits: muscle recovery is increased, strength for size is higher, endurance is increased, oxygen levels are increased, and the list goes on. Here is an article explaining the vast athletic benefits from a nourishing plant-based diet.

Is a plant-based diet good for medical issues?

More and more physicians are prescribing a whole food plant-based diet to their patients as an effective and inexpensive treatment for lifestyle diseases. This movement among the medical community is being called “food as medicine” or “lifestyle medicine.” The whole food plant-based diet has been effective in reversing many lifestyle diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis. Here is a research article illustrating the effectiveness of adopting a whole food plant based. Here is an additional research paper proving the vast health improvements gained through a whole food plant-based lifestyle.

I have high cholesterol. Will this help?

See above.

I have a lot of medical issues. Is plant-based eating good for me?

See above.

I have digestive issues and allergies. Is this going to help me?

See above.

I’ve eaten clean and exercise daily but I still can’t seem to lose weight. What am I doing wrong?

This is a great scenario illustrating the benefits of having a health coach. A health coach can help identify weak links in the diet and hold clients accountable to reach short-term goals in order attain a bigger long-term goal. You might have heard the phrase, “You can’t outrun a bad diet” — health coaching is effective in helping clients get the most benefit out of their exercise efforts by helping nourish the body well because it’s the food that counts the most when it comes to optimal health.

I’m in menopause. How will this help me with that?

Hormones effect women differently and can have very strong unwelcome effects on the body. Plant-based diets often help women feel better from the effects of menopause. That said, a plant-based diet is also very helpful for younger women in child-bearing years.

I hit 50 and everything fell apart, and now I’m depressed and unmotivated. Can you help me?

A plant-based diet tends to have a ‘snowball’ effect. One of the first things clients report is an increase in energy. This energy tends to create more positive feelings, happier attitude and more motivation to be active. The benefits just keep compounding over time as plant-based foods in the diet consistently increase.

I don’t want to count calories or points or track food. Do I have to?

The course provides several tools and printables that many clients find useful in building healthy habits and having success in adopting a plant-based diet. Counting calories and tracking every bite of food is not part of the course. Reading food labels and being familiar with national organizations’ recommended amounts of certain nutrients are covered in the course. The Second Youth Wellness Method focuses on educating women to make informed choices that support their health in their unique lives. Private coaching is also focused on eating the right kinds of foods that don’t necessarily need to be tracked or counted.

Do you sell supplements or anything else that’s needed for this course?

The course is stand-alone and does not require nor suggest the need to purchase any supplements. There is no up-selling or expectation to purchase anything outside the course itself or private coaching from MAF Health LLC. The course does include the demonstration of several kitchen tools and electronics which are purely optional to purchase at the store of choice.

I’ve was a vegan for a while and it didn’t work. How is this different?

Melissa focuses on nourishing the body. Many vegan diets are deficient in nutrients and don’t support healthy weight management or optimal health. The course teaches you information that’s needed to make choices on foods you enjoy and that help you achieve the results you want. Private coaching can cover nutrition concepts as well.

I’m busy and don’t cook. Do I have to cook?

You are not required to cook, and many of the lessons and action tasks address busy lives where cooking at home is hard to do. The strategies and techniques taught in this course or in private coaching conversations can be applied when traveling, dining out, or on the go.

What if I don’t like the recipes in the course?

Everyone has different taste preferences in food. There are many recipes shared in the Second Youth Wellness Method, however, women may find similar recipes online or in cookbooks that go along with the flavor profiles they enjoy most. The information learned in this course is foundational and can be used indefinitely and applied to any recipe. Private coaching is a great place to explore recipes that will work for your preferences.

How much time is involved to do the course?

It depends. Each module consists of learning lessons and action tasks. Some modules have video cooking demonstrations also. Lessons range from about 3 minutes to 18 minutes each. Action tasks vary in complexity and may require shopping or organizing which all varies from person to person. Generally speaking, plan on dedicating a couple hours each week plus the live weekly coaching call (generally 45-60-minutes in length) that will all pay off in spades later. The entire course is 12 weeks long. You have lifetime access to the course, and private Facebook group.

I travel a lot. Can I do the course with such a crazy schedule? What about private coaching sessions when I travel?

Again, it depends. The Second Youth Wellness Method is accessible from any mobile or desktop device. It would make great airplane or car trip entertainment! Private coaching usually meets regularly, though sessions may be rescheduled as able.

I’m not young anymore and have gained a lot of weight but I want to wear the clothes in my closet again. Will I ever be slim again?

Everyone is different. Melissa focuses on information about nourishing the body with nutrient-dense foods to achieve optimal health. Weight loss occurs on an individual basis, depending upon many things like genetics, the quality of the food, how consistent you are with plant-based eating, to what degree you’re plant-based and how long you’ve been following a plant-based eating pattern. At any age, adopting a whole food plant-based diet reaps many benefits which many include significant weight loss over time.

I don’t want to be sick and feel tired anymore. I want just want to feel better. What can I expect?

Usually, the first thing women report after a couple weeks into the Second Youth Wellness Method or private coaching is that their energy level is better. They also report generally ‘feeling better’ like feeling ‘lighter,’ having less arthritic or joint pain, having less heartburn, sleeping better, fewer headaches and others. Results depend upon each individual and the degree to which plant foods are consumed.

I am addicted to sugar? Will coaching or this course help me?

Yes! Food addictions are real and are not your fault. With so many temptations and triggers out there, piled on with stress, it’s easy to get tangled up with foods and ingredients that make us want them more. Here’s great news! Melissa’s clients report that cravings subside greatly or altogether, regardless of whether they craved sugar, salt or fatty foods! The course provides healthy alternatives to these types of comfort foods that are satisfying, and eventually alter the body’s tastes so that you’re not actually having cravings anymore.

Private coaching conversations can definitely address sugar cravings.