Motivation, exercise, prayer prompt healthy lifestyle changes

It's not very often that you hear someone say they enjoy running, but Jessica Barone, of Royal, loves running and the way it makes her feel. Barone has taken on a some new habits that have led her whole family to take on a healthier lifestyle.

Barone's story began when she had some minor health problems in October 2021. She decided then that she had to do something to lose weight.

"We are a busy family, and I wanted to have more energy and better health overall," Barone explained.

She started by making small diet changes. From October to December 2021, she had lost ten pounds. She had already been walking two to three miles a day, so she knew her nutrition was the obstacle holding her back. Then Barone began to suffer from neck pain, so she went to an O'Neill chiropractor, where she had mentioned losing weight and that's when she started a weight loss journal for counting calories.

"I would start with 1,200 calories and then add in the calories I burned exercising," she said. "Writing everything down helped a lot."

Barone decided to try another tactic at losing weight by joining a Neligh fitness center with her husband, Adam.

"My husband and I joined 719 Fitness in Neligh, which we love, and three to four days a week we are working out together," Barone said.

After joining the gym, Barone lost 30 more pounds; however, she thought there was still something missing. Her friend, Traci Beckman, suggested the 1st Phorm app, and this too helped Barone lose 10 more additional pounds by tracking macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats).

"I've moved more toward heavy weight lifting replacing quite a bit of my cardio except running, I love running." she said.

Barone is now careful about how many calories she eats and continues to count macros. She also has a 1st Phorm Coach, Jordan Nissley West, who keeps her accountable. Additionally, Barone ran the Laugh and a Half 10k in Norfolk in June and The Harvest Moon Hustle 10k in September.

Her favorite parts of the weightloss journey outweigh the scale victories.

"It's a slow process with the scale," she said. "I focus on my success running, fitness wins, how I look in my clothes and the energy I have. I can practically find a win everyday and I focus on them. I only use the scale as a tool to make sure I'm on the right track."

Barone said she loved watching her husband begin his health journey. She noticed she now has more energy for her kids, started wearing smaller sizes and loves how freeing running can be. She is also grateful for all the supporters she has in her corner.

"I would not have the strength to get through all of this without faith," she said. "I'm doing the job of caring for the body God gave me."

Her husband, Adam, is noted as one of her top supporters, always encouraging her, correcting her form and being a "great workout partner." She also acknowledged several people to thank, from her coach Jordan, parents, sisters, friends, family and even the locals for continuing to encourage her.

Barone recognized some of the biggest things she has learned on this journey to living a healthier lifestyle. She pointed out that fasting and keto is not always the answer to losing weight and she has actually lost more weight now with the carbs compared to without them.

She also had to identify daily habits that were holding her back, like not eating breakfast and not drinking enough water. Finally, she highlighted that it is necessary to be mentally prepared before starting the process of losing weight.

"Praying helped me through a lot of emotional blocks and anxiety," Barone stated.

While she is working toward her goal weight, she still has several goals to keep motivating her. Her new goals include beating her 10k finish of one hour and 48 minutes, running the full Laugh and a Half Marathon next summer, doing a chin up and eventually running a full marathon.

"This journey has changed my life because I've proven to myself that I can set my mind to doing something very hard, long term and achieve it," she said.

The advice Barone shares with others is to focus on nutrition first then begin working out and trying to get in shape. She suggests writing down food intake and analyzing what is being consumed.

With the success Barone has already achieved, she credits God for giving her the ability to work out, eat better and watch her family become healthier as a whole.