Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalissa Vicente.
Hi Jalissa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey didn’t start with fitness. It started with a wake-up call. I was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at a young age, and as I got older, my health continued to decline. As an adult, I found myself overweight and found out I was pre-diabetic. In that moment, I knew something had to change.
That season of my life forced me to slow down and really look at where I was, not just physically, but mentally. Change didn’t happen all at once. It started with small decisions, showing up on the days I didn’t feel like it, and learning how to rebuild myself from the inside out.
Running became a part of that healing process. What once felt intimidating and out of reach slowly turned into something that gave me strength and clarity. Over time, I went from avoiding challenges like marathons to completing multiple races, including the Boston Marathon. Something I once would have never imagined for myself.
But this journey became about more than just physical transformation. It taught me discipline, resilience, and what it really means to commit to growth. Through my experiences ,both professionally and personally, I’ve been able to build a platform rooted in authenticity and connection.
Today, I share my story in hopes that it resonates with someone who might feel stuck or discouraged, because I know what it feels like to be at the beginning and I know how powerful it is to decide you want more for yourself.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. It’s been messy, uncomfortable, and at times, really frustrating.
There were moments where my body felt like it was fighting me. I had to figure out how to push myself without breaking myself. That line isn’t always clear, and I didn’t always get it right.
Mentally, it was even harder. There were days I didn’t feel motivated, days I wanted to fall back into old habits, and days where I questioned if any of it was even working. Progress isn’t instant, and staying consistent when you don’t see results right away can mess with your head.
And the truth is, growth changes you. It forced me to step away from certain routines, environments, and even people that no longer aligned with who I was becoming. That part doesn’t get talked about enough, it can feel lonely.
But that’s the reality of it. It’s not pretty, it’s not linear, and it’s definitely not easy. But every hard moment built a level of discipline and resilience in me that I wouldn’t have gotten any other way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Working as a blackjack dealer in a high-energy casino environment has become an unexpected study in human behavior. The role demands presence, precision, and a quiet kind of control. Each moment there are different personalities, moods, and energies, requiring an ability to read people instantly, adapt without effort, and engage across a spectrum of human expression while maintaining composure.
Alongside this, I’ve built a platform rooted in running, wellness, and personal transformation. It reflects a journey defined less by arrival and more by process. One centered on discipline, consistency, and the quiet work of rebuilding. Running, in particular, became a structure for that evolution, turning intention into action over time.
What resonates most in my work is its honesty. It is not a curated version of transformation, but a lived one. Shaped in real time through work, movement, and growth that does not follow a linear path.
What distinguishes my perspective is this intersection: a profession that requires reading the subtleties of people moment to moment, and a personal practice built on endurance and long-term change. Together, they inform a way of moving through the world that is observant, grounded, and deeply human.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that I used to live as a people pleaser, and it came at the expense of myself. I said yes when I meant no, overextended myself, and often tied my worth to how useful or available I was to others.
Learning boundaries changed everything. At first, it felt uncomfortable, even guilty. I felt like I was doing something wrong by choosing myself. But over time, I realized that protecting my energy wasn’t selfish, it was necessary. You can’t grow or show up fully in your life if you’re constantly depleted from trying to meet everyone else’s expectations.
The deeper lesson has been understanding that self-love doesn’t always feel easy or natural at first. Sometimes it requires disappointing people, sitting with discomfort, and rewriting patterns that you’ve had for years. But on the other side of that is peace, clarity, and a stronger sense of identity.
Now, I see boundaries as a form of respect. I’ve learned that choosing myself isn’t something to feel guilty about. It is the foundation of everything I’ve built since.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/lovegoodjuju
