This Couple Started Running During the Pandemic—and Lost 115 Pounds Together
Name: Marlon and Camille Jones
Age: 30 and 28
Hometown: Atlanta
Start Weights: 420 pounds and 190 pounds
End Weights: 330 pounds and 165 pounds
Time Running: 7 months
For Marlon Jones, life was just heavy. He felt lazy, and even everyday things felt like a task. He also thought he was too young to be feeling that way.
Camille Jones felt similarly. She struggled with yo-yo dieting, trying to follow strict rules and rushing the process. It never worked.
The couple was stuck in a repetitive cycle of crash diets and sporadic workouts, which ultimately led to health issues. A physical revealed that Marlon was pre-diabetic and experiencing sleep apnea. In 2018, Camille was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age.
But when the coronavirus pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, they both saw it as an opportunity to make some lifestyle changes.
“COVID-19 was an eye-opener. We really began to think about our health and how we could improve it. Being pre-diabetic and having sleep apnea, I felt like these were preventable,” Marlon said. “It was time for me to take control of my health in the right way.”
On April 1, they committed to their “journey of consistency.” Marlon weighed in that day at 420 pounds and Camille weighed in at 190 pounds.
They started by doing home workout videos. A month into their journey, Marlon had an idea.
“Marlon said, ‘Hey, let’s try running and do 50K [31 miles total] in May!’ I was very hesitant,” Camille said. “I had tried running before and couldn’t run for more than 30 seconds without stopping.”
The duo had always wanted to become runners. It seemed like a great way to stay in shape, and also a great stress reliever. They never believed they could actually become runners, but really just wanted to give it a shot.
On May 1, they ran and walked 2.3 miles around a local business park. And they kept at it. They started doing about eight to 10 miles a week, logging their miles using an Apple Watch, and uploading their workouts to the Nike Run Club app and Garmin Connect app.
“When we first began running, it was tough to say the least, but the running high afterwards was amazing,” Camille said. “Although we couldn’t run very long or fast, each day we got better, and it got easier. Running really changed our mentality about working out.”
They stayed consistent with their runs and met their 50K goal by the end of May.
“After we did that, I knew we could do anything we put our minds to and just commit to,” Marlon said. “It was the first time we set a running goal (or any fitness goal for that matter) and actually completed it. At the beginning of our weight loss journey, that’s what we wanted to achieve the most—following through with what we say we’re gonna do. As beginner runners at the time, simply getting up every day and running towards the goal of 31 miles at the end of the month was a huge feat for us. It was the jumpstart to our running journey.”
Currently, the duo runs three to four days a week, for three miles each outing. They currently run about an 11:44/mile pace—after starting out at 16:17 per mile. Their goal is to get under a 10-minute mile.
Along with adding in activity, they also switched up their eating habits.
“We do not follow a specific diet. Instead, I have come up with a balanced meal plan that really works for our lifestyle,” Camille said. “I plan out our meals at the beginning of each week and try to make sure we have a variety of whole foods in our diet.”
They still allow themselves treats so things don’t become monotonous.
“This works for us because it’s not strict, and we aren’t restricting ourselves from the foods we like—we just eat them in moderation,” Camille said.
Since they started their journey, Camille has lost 25 pounds in seven months, and Marlon has lost 90 pounds.
“Running has dramatically changed our lives for the better,” Camille said. “We do other workouts, but it all began with running and we always come right back to it. We plan to run our first official race on the one-year anniversary of our first run, and we plan to participate in at least five races next year.”
Adds Marlon, “It’s not about how far or how fast, it’s just about getting out there and doing it. Running is one of the few workouts that literally comes down to you versus you. You quit when you want to quit, it’s not about strength or speed or toughness, or size—it’s all about wanting to push yourself to be a better you. And there’s no better way than literally being able to look on your app and see just how far you’ve come.”
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