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Meet Marlon John
Marlon John’s background, education and training combine to give him a distinct flair as a Wellness Advisor.
Marlon grew up in poverty; in fact, he did not have electricity until he was 10 years old. At the age of thirteen, he moved to the Bronx, New York to live with his father. Living in the Bronx was difficult because there were many temptations to behave badly. Walking to school every day was an adventure. He saw crack vials on the sidewalks, and many times he had to avoid neighborhood fights to attend his classes. In fact, his high school was one of the first in the nation to install metal detectors.
He knew that playing sports was his only way out. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Liberty University in Virginia… but there was one small problem: he didn’t have the money to pay for tuition. Staying in college was important to him because he did not want to go back to the streets of the Bronx, where his friends were dying from gang fights. His only chance was to make it on the football team. He worked hard and earned a football scholarship at the end of the first semester, and eventually he became the first person in his family to graduate college.
Although he had earned a degree in Exercise Science, after college Marlon found it difficult to find the motivation to share his knowledge. Something was missing. In the summer of 2000, his mother had a stroke, and Marlon felt powerless. After seeing his mother in such a fragile and unhappy state, he knew something had to change. In that moment, he realized that if he could not influence others to eat healthy and exercise, his potential as a human being would not be reached. He remembers his mother saying, “Marlon, your health is your wealth.” Those words have been permanently etched into his memory bank. He made a decision from that day to inspire others to prioritize their health, and he believes there is a piece of his mother in everyone who seeks his advice.
Marlon went on to become a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CPT) and a Nutrition Specialist, certified by the American Association of Sports Dietitians and Nutritionist (AASDN). In addition, Marlon is a motivational speaker who inspires people to get fit and live healthier lives.
His philosophy for better health is “Get Back to Basics” — which includes whole-body exercises, real food, fun, motivation, and highly effective fitness training. But beyond his knowledge base, his greatest strength is his ability to genuinely connect with people. After all, it’s an understanding of people that will help guide them to make positive changes.