Below, Messina (who gets to work at 6 a.m. every morning!) shares the make-ahead breakfast recipe that saves her from hanger meltdowns on busy days, the wellness philosophies she’s adopted from her mom (mothers know best!), the workout playlist app she uses on the reg, plus much more. Read up–and take notes!
The most important part of my morning routine is …
Breakfast, oh my god, breakfast. I cannot skip the best meal of the day. I need some fuel to run on and if I don’t eat within an hour of waking, I get a headache and am hungry all day. Since I get up pretty damn early, it has to be premade or quick. Lately my go-to make-ahead breakfast has been four eggs beaten with ¼ cup of heavy cream, turkey breakfast sausage, mushrooms, onions and sage. I combine all and bake for 30 min. It’s good in the fridge for a few days and heats up in 30 seconds.
Morning workouts or evening workouts?
I will always prefer a morning workout, however it’s not possible currently since I coach from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Morning workouts just put me in a better mood and I feel accomplished, like I have a leg up on everyone else still snoozing away. My brain functions best in the morning as well and I get an extra boost from those endorphins to take care of my to-do list at rapid speed.
The one thing in my gym bag I absolutely can’t survive without is …
Airpods. I was resistant to buying such an expensive, tiny product that would be so easy to lose, but honestly they are amazing. They stay in your ears, no cords getting in the way of full range of motion, and they sound great. I use FitRadio mostly now—it’s a paid app with a trove of workout playlists, from pop and top 40 to EDM festival music and trap mash-ups. Lately I’ve also been trying to wear my MYZONE heart rate monitor more—it keeps me honest during my cardio sesh.
My go-to post-workout products are …
Sometimes you don’t have time for a shower before your next appointment post-workout, in which case I love Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple Cleansing Cloths. I use them on my face, and anywhere else that may need it.
The three items my fridge is always stocked with are …
1. Raspberries. They’re delicious and full of antioxidants and nutrients. I love them in a protein smoothie, oatmeal or on rice cakes with nut butter.
2. Chicken thighs. Don’t be afraid of dark meat! Thighs are hard to overcook and have so much more flavor. My weekly meal prep usually involves these as my main protein source.
3. Preworkout (this is in the cabinet). I’ll admit it, I love it. Usually it’s a half a scoop of LIT from GNC. I try not to use it every workout, but oh baby, does it do the trick when you want an extra boost of energy.
An indispensable part of my wellness routine that has absolutely nothing to do with fitness is …
Two things: sleep and friendships. If you don’t allow yourself to recover, you’re wasting your gains and fanning the flames for burnout. I truly need eight hours of sleep to feel and show up as my best. Friendship, because what would I do without my tribe of women cheering me on? My friends bring me up when I feel down and are always there to help me celebrate a win.
My go-to motivational mantra for tough days or tough workouts …
Oh my gosh I have so many. I am a true believer in the power of positive thinking. Here are two: “Allow yourself to be a beginner; no one starts off being excellent,” which is so true—especially in a fitness journey. And “Stop waiting for Friday.” Own every day—any day can have Friday feels if you are grateful for what you have and you can take action in any moment.
The best wellness discovery I’ve made in Philadelphia is …
The community! Philadelphia gets a bad rap for being unhealthy, but we are lovers of health and wellness. There are friends to be made at any studio, like-minded people who want to do fun adrenaline-bursting stuff! This community makes me feel seen and loved and I appreciate them so much.
My ideal self-care day in Philly would look like …
I honestly love hot yoga and I don’t do it enough! I would probably take a 6 a.m. hot yoga class with Stacia at Amrita and then hit up one of my favorite breakfast spots, Hungry Pigeon. I would head north for a stroll through Society Hill and Old City to do some shopping on 3rd Street with an iced matcha latte in hand.
Self-care for me isn’t complete without a stroll by a body of water and some greenery, so I like to head out to Forbidden Drive for a walk solo or with friends. A deep tissue massage at Haven Wellness in Fishtown, and of course dinner with friends. I love any style of tapas—small plates, so I can try everything—so I’d probably choose Double Knot to finish the night.
The best piece of wellness advice I’ve ever received is …
From my mom: You can’t run on empty, and you need healthy fats to think properly. She always used the example that your body is like a car—you can’t expect it to run if it isn’t fueled properly. She also detested the low-fat, low-cal diet trends that were more popular years ago. She taught me not to follow the fads of fitness and wellness; stick to the basics, be intuitive, stay grounded in wholesome foods and move however your body is telling you to move.
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