My Exercise Journey:
Hey there, I’m Jacob, Exercise Physiologist of LifestyleRx Physical Activity and fitness enthusiast!
I am a graduate of Arkansas State University, Department of Health and Sport Sciences, earning my B.S. and M.S. in Exercise Physiology. I have worked in a variety of healthcare settings as an Exercise Physiologist, but most recently as part of the team at North Idaho Cardiac Rehabilitation. After seeing dramatic results in my patients with a lifestyle approach to physical activity, I knew I had to spread the word.
I learned at an early age the true value in physical activity and how it can both positively and negatively impact your life. Growing up, I was involved in a variety of competitive sports. I was an avid swimmer, runner, and biker, I participated in many team sports such as soccer, football, and basketball receiving many achievements and accolades. As I aged into adolescents, I developed a skewed perspective of the balance of physical activity and nutrition for preparation in sport. My lack of knowledge led me down a dark road that resulted in a distorted understanding of positive body image. I began to over-exercise to the point of physical harm and developed poor relationship with food. At age 14, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. I had to re-construct what it meant to be an athlete and how to use physical activity and nutrition in a positive way to maximize performance.
After receiving medically supervised help, I was able to return to regular exercise with a better understanding of the physical, psychosocial, and nutritional balances of it. Eventually I honed my skills into endurance sports where I earned several scholarship opportunities.
I want to take my experiences, my education, and my passion for wellness to help those take action toward improving their health. By using a medical approach to preventive care I hope to provide skills and knowledge to our community.
