MELISSA BOWMAN LI is an endurance athlete who’s truly passionate about heath and wellness. As a leading strength training professional and registered dietitian, she has helped hundreds of clients overcome everything from heart disease and obesity to diabetes and depression.
After having 3 children under age 3, she found herself with little time to train and quickly became depressed and out of shape. Melissa reached a point where she needed do something fast, but couldn’t commit the same amount of time and effort she could prior to having children. It was at this time that Melissa created her unique approach to health and fitness — the PhysioLife Method — and opened PhysioLife Studios in Chicago, teaching clients a system that adheres to three basic tenants: training, nutrition, and revitalization. 
Since opening in 2008, she has worked with many celebrity clients, including Al Roker, Whoopi Goldberg, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and others.
A Registered Dietitian of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), Melissa received her M.S. in Clinical Nutrition with a Holistic Concentration. In her practice, she bridges Eastern and Western medicine to formulate plans for her clients, focusing on the relationship between holistic nutrition and disease prevention, and how environmental toxins can be linked to chronic disease and inflammation.
Melissa has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, The View, WLS-TV (ABC Chicago), WMAQ-TV (NBC Chicago) and more. She has been interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Social and Michigan Avenue magazines and has been featured on radio shows around the country. She regularly holds seminars in Chicago and the surrounding area to educate, motivate, and inspire people to take control of their lives.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & CREDENTIALS:
- B.S. in Human Nutrition
- M.S. in Clinical Nutrition with a Holistic Concentration
- Certified in Slow Cadence Training
- Registered Dietitian of the American Dietetic Association (ADA)
- Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) for the State of Illinois
- Former Figure Skating Instructor
- Ironman Florida
- Ironman Wisconsin
- Numerous sprint, Olympic and half-iron distance triathlons, plus marathons
2011 GOALS:
- Break 13 hours in the Ironman Canada, August 2011
- Run a marathon in under 3 hours, 50 minutes
- Finish top ten in her age group for either an International Distance or Half-Iron distance triathlon
WEBSITES:
Melissa – you sound like someone worth knowing. I’m a rower, a nurse practitioner and one who also bridges the east and west in various ways. I’ve struggled all my life with overweight and now at 57 its getting pretty tough. Do you have a specific training program for older folks who carry 20 extra pounds? Thanks for any help/inspiration you can offer.
Deb in CT
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Deb, congrats on being active. As you probably know already, as you age, your muscle mass decreases. With this, metabolism also decreases. When working with clients, I focus on clean eating- it must be grown from the ground, picked, plucked or had a mom at one time. Lots of veggies and protein, balancing strength training. That is the key. Good luck.
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Hello Melissa. I am also a registered dietitian. I am soon to be 45 and my goal this year is to be the best I can be, physically and mentally. I am struggling with getting a training schedule going. I am a second degree black belt in traditional Okinawan Karate, under Sensei Seikichi Iha, and am considering a 1/2 marathon in September. I lift weights 2x/week, run 3-5 miles 2-3x/week and practice karate. I am struggling with motivation and getting older. Any suggestions for a fellow RD?
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Congrats to you for the black belt. I am sure with your training for that you know at times it can be hard to get motivated to get going, but once you do it- it feels so good. I would pick a race and get it on the calendar- and actually pay for it- that way you are committed. To make it more fun, get a training buddy or pick a destination race and take a mini-vac after. I also enjoy downloading all my training sessions throughout the training season, so I can see improvement. That is really motivating. I use an online system- but you don’t have to- you can keep a log. Good luck and let me know how it goes. Melissa
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Hello Melissa. I am looking for some type of strength training program. I am 37 and depressed. I eat alot of “comfort food”. I don’t exercise, I am gaining weight and I have a sit-down job. I am not a cook and I don’t eat meat. I just need some help. Any suggestions? Thanks.
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I’m interested in where you did your graduate work. I’m passionate about nutrition and am interested in finding a program that combines physiology-based learning with a holistic approach. If you don’t mind sharing. Thank you
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Margie, thanks for the questions. I would try to set some reachable goals for the week- make 1 new change at a time. Start small. Not sure what resources you have, but try to get a session with a personal trainier- a lot of clubs and facilties offer 1 free session. You can learn a lot in that session and then go from there. Try reducing your sugars each day, little by little and learn to replace these comfort foods with real, clean foods- you will be amazed at how good things taste. If you are eating because you are stressed, depressed, tired, etc. try finding another activity to replace this type of eating. If you really need to eat, then have a balanced snack with protein. This will help you feel better. Good luck, Melissa
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Leah, no problem. I earned my BS degree in human nutrition and dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and also did my dietetic internship there to become a registered dietitian. From there, I went on and got my MS degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. They have a very good program, with a holistic approach. thanks and have a great day, Melissa
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Melissa,
How could I find a trainer knowledgeable about the slow weight training technique in my area? I live in Baltimore, MD – clearly nowhere near you. Do you know anyone or how to find someona?- google didn’t work – maybe a better keyword? I did a slow lifting regimen about 7 years ago- it was the only time weightlifting worked great for me. Any one in Baltimore/Washington DC area? Thank you so much for your help.
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