Taking Part in Study Leads to a Healthier Lifestyle for Parker

Joshua Parker knew something needed to change. 

He ate fast food and processed food. He was gaining weight. 

“I wasn’t always making the best decisions in the foods I ate or being active,” Parker says. “I wasn’t at a healthy weight, so I wasn’t in the best shape.” 

Parker, 40, knew he needed to do better.

Then the perfect opportunity came about — the St. Jude LIFE Home Heart Health Study. Parker is a long-term rhabdomyosarcoma survivor and St. Jude LIFE participant.

The 20-week Home Heart Health Study included a personalized exercise prescription and online workouts with St. Jude LIFE staff. St. Jude LIFE provided an iPad, adjustable free weights, exercise bands, and a heart monitor. The goal was to improve survivors’ heart and lung health and overall strength.

“I liked the accountability in the study,” Parker says. “I had someone saying, ‘Here’s a plan for you, and here’s what we’re going to do that might result in some success.”

Workout partner helped with motivation

Parker’s workout partner was Sean O’Neil, manager of the Human Performance Laboratory at St. Jude. During the first 8 weeks of the program, Parker worked out frequently with O’Neil over Zoom calls.  O’Neil kept Parker accountable. 

“Working out with Sean was great,” Parker says. “We hit it off pretty quickly. I looked forward to the calls from St. Jude LIFE. They created a connection and motivation for me to follow through and be healthier.”

Over time, workouts with St. Jude LIFE staff tapered off as participants began exercising more on their own using online videos provided by the study.

“We designed the study this way to encourage exercise independence,” O’Neil says.  

St. Jude LIFE study led to healthy lifestyle changes

Taking part in the St. Jude LIFE study encouraged Parker to make other changes. He and his wife began going to a gym near his house. During the week, Parker exercises in the mornings before work at his employer’s fitness facility. His workout routine includes walking on a treadmill and lifting weights.

“Josh did an awesome job and finished the study with a 100% adherence rate,” O’Neil says. “He lost a lot of weight, started running on his own, and began leading a healthier lifestyle.”  

Parker also started eating better. He eats more whole foods and has cut out most processed foods. Whole foods are unprocessed or slightly processed. Whole foods include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Many processed foods have added sugar, salt, fats, and preservatives.

Parker focuses on eating high-protein foods and good fats. Good fats include unsaturated fats in foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, and olive oil.

“I can’t sit here and say I don’t eat pizza or fast food,” Parker says. “But I eat those kinds of foods in moderation. I don’t eat them all the time.”

Parker tries to eat healthy snacks such as peanut butter, yogurt, fruit, and cheese. When he goes to a fast food restaurant, he looks for healthy options such as grilled chicken or salad. 

Advice for others seeking a healthier lifestyle

Parker has the following advice for people who want to make healthy lifestyle changes:

• Start small and make gradual changes. 
• Make healthy choices a priority. You can find time to work out and shop for healthy foods.
• Find a partner to work out with. 

Over time, Parker has lost about 40 pounds. Parker says he sleeps better now and has more energy. 

“I used to think I didn’t have time to work out, but now I work out 5 or 6 days a week consistently,” Parker says. “If you make something a priority, it will be a priority. It helps to have an accountability partner. Going to the gym with my wife motivates me. It’s probably the biggest key to my success.”