Meet Trailblazer Jessica Denton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Denton.

Jessica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in the midwest, was a high school dancer and athlete, and continued to dance throughout college. I have a minor in ballet. As many young women do, I fell into the comparison trap, where how I looked and what I weighed defined my self-worth. I developed a binge eating disorder and struggled for several years throughout my 20s. I binged every single night, in the middle of the night, for years throughout my 20s. I compensated by over-exercising and starving myself during the day. This was the beginning of my yo yo dieting struggle, which led to food and body imaging taking over my mind and my life.

I was never extremely overweight or extremely thin. I’ve been anything from a size 2 to a size 8, but my mind, soul, heart, and emotions were off the charts and out of control. That’s why my message and passion are so important… having a bad relationship with fitness and nutrition isn’t something that you can tell about someone just by looking at them. And, I truly believe that the most important shifts are the ones that are made internally. The rest will follow.

Fast forward several years and a move to Colorado (my first therapist recommended a change of scenery), and I’m happy, healthy, exercising less, indulging more, and in the best shape of my life. I started sharing my story on social media and immediately started to receive messages from other women who were struggling with similar issues. Hearing how I was inspiring someone else fueled my soul in a way I’ve never felt before. I realized that the only reason I had to go through all the years of body shaming was because my purpose was to pay it forward.

I’ve decided to turn my mess into my message, and quit my corporate jobs to try and help other women finally find their own balance between fitness and nutrition, stop obsessing over the number on the scale, and start First Loving Themselves.

I currently co-own a barre studio in Edwards, Colorado (putting my college Entrepreneurial and Marketing Business Degree with a Minor in Ballet to work). My studio is Barre Forte Vail Valley.

I’ll graduate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition this fall, with a Health Coach Certification. From there, I plan to finish other fitness and health certifications such as Girls Gone Strong Coaching, Personal Training, and more so I can work with clients to design a fitness and nutrition program that works for them and their goals.

I’m currently working on defining the FLY Experience and my personal brand (including a website revamp), which will include (but not limited to): online fitness subscription, 1:1 health coaching, downloadable fitness programs, wellness retreats, online courses, and more.

My goal is to give women the tools to First Love Yourself, which includes anything from fitness, food, paying it forward, fashion (athleisure is my jam), personal development, beauty, and more!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at all! I was stuck living in a “when I, then I” mindset for a long time too.

“When I weigh ___, then I’ll be happy.”
“When I’m a size ___, then I can wear ___.”
“When I look like her, then I’ll be loved.”

It was the hardest work I ever had to do.

Some of my favorite advice is:
You don’t have to listen to everything you think.
Indulge mindfully.
Eat for the hunger you have now, not for the hunger that’s to come.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
Hearing that I’ve inspired someone has always meant more to me than earning a paycheck. If I didn’t have bills to pay, I’d help women First Love Themselves for free!

I specialize in giving real women, with real lives, and real struggles… real advice and real lifestyle changes that yield real results.

I don’t believe in obsessing, restricting, or everything in moderation. I believe in going back to basics and listening to what our body tells us. Are we hungry? Are we satisfied?

I believe in my FLY Formula on a daily basis:
Shake
Sweat
Sleep
Serving Sizes

What sets me apart is…

I’m not a personal trainer who will spend an hour with you in the gym and then forget about you until the next session.

I’m not a nutritionist who will give you a bunch of stats, science, and food lists broken down into good and bad foods.

I am a real person who has overcome similar challenges, allowing me to relate to my clients on equal, common ground.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Getting over fear, and feeling like you’re being judged by other females in the industry. Women can be hard on other women.

It’s easy to second guess what we’re doing when we’re overloaded with everyone else wins, successes, and touched up filtered Instagram photos.

My path is different from hers and that’s okay. What works for her won’t necessarily work for me and that’s okay. What she’s doing in her business isn’t my path or passion and that’s okay.

The struggle is trusting our own process and following through with what makes us feel empowered and come alive.

Pricing:

• Barre Forte Vail Valley Memberships start at $99/month
• 1:1 FLY Health Coaching packages start at $150/month
• Upcoming FLY monthly fitness & wellness memberships will start at $40/month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessicadenton.com
• Phone: 970-376-3577
• Email: hello.jessicadenton@gmail.com
• Instagram: @jessicamariedenton
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/jessicamariedenton/

Image Credit:
Sherri Innis Photography; Project Seedling

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