Meet Melody Barrons | Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner & CrossFit Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melody Barrons and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melody, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Nutritional Therapy and nutrition coaching are not just about writing meal plans. I actually don’t write meal plans for my clients. Instead, I focus on educating them on how the human body functions and the role food plays in those processes. What I’ve found is that when a person understands their body and the way food affects it, their decision making about what to eat becomes much simpler. For example when they understand how carbohydrates impact blood sugar, choosing the correct carbohydrates is much less complicated and they begin to feel better.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Functional Nutritional Therapy is different than your basic nutrition coaching. We dive into what I term the foundations of health. While many people come to me with the desire to lose weight, that’s not technically my primary focus with a client. My primary goal is to find out how their body is functioning. I may take them through a process to discover more information about how they feel when they eat. For example, digestion is a foundation of health. If someone isn’t digesting the food they eat, it will be difficult for them to lose weight. If they let me know they often feel bloated after a meal, we explore that further and find foods and ways to alleviate their symptom of bloating to improve digestion. Losing weight is what I call a side benefit of what an FNTP does. The main goal is to support the foundational aspects of health through key dietary changes and sometimes supplemental support.
I’ve always been in the “food world.” I attended the Dallas Art Institute and became a chef many years ago in 2002. I worked in different restaurants and bakeries. At one point I knew for my own personal health I needed to stop eating sugar. I was feeling terrible starting my day testing buttercream frosting. My father had passed away in 2009 from Parkinson’s and I began learning about connections between food and health. It just made sense. Our food becomes part of us. So it’s no great mystery that it impacts our overall health. This investigation led to my enrollment with the Nutritional Therapy Association and I began my journey as FNTP. Then later went on to obtain my CrossFit Trainer Certificate. These two seemingly different careers when paired together allow me to be part of so many individuals health journey and see lasting change. Working with people of all ages and backgrounds, helping them discontinue medications and reclaim their health has been the most rewarding aspect of my career. At CrossFit OYL we currently partner with Enso Direct Care in Haslet, Texas. Dr. Brad Faglie sends their clientele to me when they are in need of nutrition services. We work together to help them reach their goals. The human body is amazingly resilient when given the proper tools. We focus on real food, body movement, and stress management.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would start each day with a coach led workout at CrossFit OYl in Rhome, Texas. Then head out to breakfast at Ascension Coffee for their Migas and Slow Bar coffee. Maybe hit the Trinity Trails and walk through the Botanic Gardens The Fort Worth Stockyards and Billy Bob’s would be on our agenda. Everyone should visit once! We would head over to Local Craft BBQ in Newark, Tx for a meal. A game of pickle ball at Fort Worth’s Courtside Kitchen, followed by some shopping in the Park Village area. Dinner would be at the Clay Pigeon for the Pork Shank! The Fort Worth Zoo would be a must see followed by the iconic train ride. Next we would head to Sundance Square for dinner at Grace or the Reata and a live performance at one of the local theaters such as Circle Theatre or Four Day Weekend Comedy Theatre.
For our last day I would take them to Dallas Circus Center for a trapeze class!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Steve, has been an incredible support throughout my career as an FNTP and CrossFit trainer. He’s gained as much knowledge about nutrition as I have and is also a personal trainer and coach for USAF candidates. Together, we’ve attended several nutrition conferences over the years, including Low Carb USA, which has played a pivotal role in shaping my approach to nutrition coaching. The insights I’ve gained from doctors and practitioners at these events have been invaluable. Currently, I’m working at CrossFit OYL in Rhome, Texas, where I have the opportunity to work closely and long-term with many clients.

Website: https://oylfitness.com/

Instagram: @melodyb_nutritioncoach

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/melody-barrons-69186b4b

Image Credits
Eric Yun
Nikki Bunch
Heather McKinney