Melissa Gorga, the star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, is admired for her fit physique. While she's not planning to compete in bodybuilding like her sister-in-law Teresa Giudice, Melissa has a dedicated approach to fitness and healthy eating that keeps her in shape. This article explores Melissa Gorga's weight loss and fitness tips, drawing from her interviews and social media posts.
Melissa Gorga's Fitness Philosophy
Melissa Gorga considers fitness a lifestyle choice. "It’s a lifestyle for me," Melissa, 39, says. "I feel better when I eat healthy. If I don’t work out for a week or two, I feel miserable." She emphasizes the importance of feeling good and maintaining a routine that works for her.
Weekly Workout Routine
Melissa works out at least four times a week for about an hour each time. Her workouts include weight lifting, focusing on toning her "butts and guts" to keep her booty and abs in shape. "I do a lot of lifting," she says. "I don’t do that much cardio, because I run around so much."
On Sundays, Melissa finds ways to make exercise fun, like her "90's R&B workout." She shared a peek at her exercise routine inside her Jersey home gym. Melissa began with seated cable pulls, followed by some lying leg curls and a set of seated leg extensions. While it was clear Melissa was in the zone, she made sure to keep the session fun and playful, as demonstrated by her little dance breaks in between sets.
Diet and Eating Habits
Melissa does not follow fad diets like paleo or keto. "I never do fad diets," she says. "I feel like I do a lot better with my own routine. It’s worked for me forever." Instead, she focuses on portion control and healthy eating habits.
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Limiting Carbs
Melissa limits her carb intake, especially in the afternoon and evening. After a gym session, Melissa will eat a grilled chicken salad or turkey sandwich for lunch. "For dinner, it’s always a piece of meat and vegetables," she says, adding that she cooks at least three times a week and practices portion control.
Cheat Meals
Melissa enjoys occasional cheat meals, especially during Sunday dinners with her Italian family, which often includes pasta and pizza. She believes in balance and not restricting herself too much. The workouts allow her to indulge in Sunday Italian dinners, and when that sweet tooth kicks in, Melissa goes for it … kind of. To curb that craving, she'll eat some berries instead of pouncing on a pint of ice cream. Not only does that trick help her satisfy that need for sweetness, but it sets a healthy example for her children.
Hydration
Melissa is a big advocate for drinking plenty of water. Melissa is” huge” on consuming “so much” water. “I pee a lot because I drink a lot of water. So I feel like I’m constantly running to the bathroom because I just drink so much water. So … I know it’s such, like, a cliche, but it’s so true.
Avoiding Salty Foods
To avoid bloating, Melissa avoids salty foods the day before events or occasions where she wants to look her best. “I won’t eat, like, salty food the day before, ’cause I do retain water,” Melissa told Us Weekly. “So, it’s like, I pay attention if I’m going to eat, like, anything really salty or Chinese food or anything that’s going to give me a lot of salt.
Body Toning and Treatments
Melissa focuses on toning her body through weight lifting and has also explored innovative treatments.
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Emsculpt
Melissa tried Emsculpt, a non-invasive treatment that simulates 20,000 squats in 30 minutes. "I just tried something called Emsculpt, which is the equivalent of doing 20,000 squats in 30 minutes," she says. "You do it four times and each time is a half-hour session. You can do it on your butt or on your abs." According to NewJerseyPlasticSurgery.com, doctors place the non-invasive device on patients' buttocks, legs or abs, and the machine creates powerful pulses that contract the area's muscles. Melissa says the simulated exercise tricked her body into thinking it was really working out, and left her "sore the next day."
Acupressure Mat
Melissa uses a Pranamat ECO, an acupressure mat, to firm up her skin and improve circulation. She wrote in the caption: "Check out my tummy! I enjoyed this AMAZING deep intense massage for backpain and headache relief earlier, but now it's my fav skincare tool that (WOW!) transformed my belly!" The company claims on Instagram that it can be used to "firm up the skin on your tummy" by increasing the "blood and lymphatic circulation." Beyond diet and exercise for flat abs (let's be real), the company wrote: "Pranamat ECO helps in this instance by bringing extra circulation to a specific area, which has 2 effects: 1. Addresses the root cause of cellulite and 2. Brings nutrients and oxygen to the muscles to help rebuild after a workout."
Restaurant Business Experience
Melissa's experience in the restaurant business influenced her eating habits. Her ill-fated restaurant business made it super-hard to eat healthy. "Instead of cooking, I would just say, ‘Let’s run over there and eat real quick.’" She realized the demanding nature of the restaurant industry and decided to focus on her other ventures and family. "That was Joe’s idea, and he realized once he got into the business that ‘Wow, This is no joke and you have to be here 24/7,'" Melissa says. "We didn’t have someone amazing [running it]. He’s not [pushing for it, either]. I have three kids, [my store] Envy, a reality show, and a couple of other side businesses. I have no time for a restaurant. I’m trying to just serve my children dinner. It was way too much work. I don’t want to mess around with food."
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