Managed to blast past extreme anxiety and Corporate burnout through the power of lifting
Written by Stephanie Kewin
Photography by Paul Buceta
Makeup by Monica Kalra
Hair by Laura Christine Clark
Today, Jacqueline Romano juggles a LOT. But she has her priorities set. And at the top of that list? A strong, steady, loving marriage. “Sure, I’m proud of how I created a healthy lifestyle and feel great in my body. I balance work, home, fitness, and my businesses with ease. But my relationship with my husband is what I am most proud of.” Along with her marriage, Jacqueline’s fitness is of utmost importance. And she learned that the hard way. “About 10 years into my career, I found myself extremely stressed, working 70-plus hour weeks during busy season for weeks on end. I ate, slept, and worked. I was stressed, SKINNY (a whopping 95 lbs at one point), exhausted, mentally drained, and anxious. I vividly remember waking up with extreme anxiety thinking about my to-do list. I needed to find a balance somehow. I joined a gym and started going with my husband at night after work.” It was this shift that helped Jacqueline begin to find her strong.
“I was quite literally sick of being stressed and skinny.
I wanted to take up SPACE and build muscle and get balanced
mentally. Weight lifting did that for me."
Soon after joining a gym, she began following a few fitness influencers and that gave her even more fitspo to keep pushing forward on her journey towards becoming strong—and she signed up for online coaching with a prominent fitness influencer/trainer. “I wanted to have a different presence—personally and professionally. I was quite literally sick of being stressed and skinny. I wanted to take up SPACE and build muscle and get balanced mentally. Weight lifting did that for me.” Empowered by a newfound love for weight lifting, Jacqueline delved even deeper into fitness as she gained confidence in the gym and then began exploring nutrition and other areas of health to support her exciting new aesthetic goals.
“I got comfortable in the gym. I learned about the importance of protein. I built some muscles and got SHREDDED!"
“I got comfortable in the gym. I learned about the importance of protein. I built some muscles and got SHREDDED! I reduced my stress, I was sleeping better. Problem was… I was on a 1,200 calorie meal plan, super focused on my one cheat meal a week, and was meal prepping and rigid with my food 24/7. I remember showing up to a tailgate for a country concert with my food containers of grilled chicken, brown rice, and broccoli. The coaching program did not teach me how to live the healthy lifestyle while still actually having a LIFE!” So, although she’d achieved great fitness, and was building her confidence, it wasn’t until she began practicing Intuitive Eating that she really hit her stride—in the gym, kitchen, and in life. Balance. Now, Jacqueline’s sense of self is very much encompassed in fitness. She says, “I AM fitness! It is a part of life. Whether I am formally lifting weights, teaching a class, going on a long walk with my dog, helping my husband do manual work around the house, lifting up my nieces and nephews, paddle boarding—I’m doing it! Fitness is immersed in every aspect of my life now. And it’s fun!” What’s more, it’s having a brilliant cascading affect. Not only are women around her noticing Jacqueline’s new glow, they’re learning how to get it by following her lead. She’s been welcoming new clients as a fitness coach, and loving it.
Get STRONG(er) with Jacqueline Romano
